p. 7 | Christian Growth and Backsliding

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Apr 3, 1913

Christian Growth and Backsliding

THE attainment of Christian character is the work of a lifetime. It is wrought out through many experiences of joy and sorrow, of pain and pleasure. It is like the mighty oak which appears first as a tender shoot, but through the ministry of sunshine and rain, through the nourishment which it receives from the soil and air and water, it grows from day to day. Through resistance of storm and tempest it strikes its roots down more deeply into mother earth, and as the result of this process of growth and resistance it becomes strong and hardy.

IN the Lord’s providence the experiences of life are sanctified to the accomplishment of growth in the Christian character. The child of God, by the sincere milk of the word and by the ministry of the Holy Spirit, grows up into Christ. Affliction, adversity, sorrow, trial, all have their places in the development of the character that is wrought out. If day by day the follower of the Master submits himself to the will of God; if he patiently, submissively, and uncomplainingly follows where the Master leads; if he receives with faith the ingrafted word, he grows strong in heart, like the mighty oak, and becomes a stalwart pillar in the church of God.

THE work of backsliding is not the process of a day. Its development takes time. One is not transformed in a moment from a servant of the Master into an emissary of the evil one. The first departure is in the cherishing of sinful desires, the entrance of unbelief. Idols are set up in the heart. The sensitive soul becomes hardened, the conscience seared, and step by step the once earnest Christian is lured on by Satan, and finally becomes his willing slave.

WE should pray for spiritual enlightenment to be able to detect the first approach of sin. We should be so committed to the service of our King that when the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will raise up in our hearts a standard against him. Our consecration should be so complete that when the enemy presents before us his temptations, they will awaken no response in our hearts.

BY watchfulness, by prayerfulness, by constant distrust of self and absolute dependence upon the Lord and his strength, we shall be able to hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end. We have nothing in ourselves upon which we can depend. Our wisdom is but foolishness, our strength but weakness. But in our mighty Helper we have one who is able to complete even in our experience the good work which he has begun. This is now our hope, and if we are faithful it will prove our crown of rejoicing in the end.