A Word to Backsliders by E. Hilliard

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Sep 22, 1914

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 41, No. 37.

A Word to Backsliders

By E. Hilliard

DEAR backslider: Once you knew the peace of pardoned sin. You had sweet communion with God and His crucified Son. For weeks, months, and even years, you walked with God.

But the restless tempter was upon your track, and almost unconsciously you listened to his siren voice. Gradually you yielded to temptation, and lost your hold upon God. You changed masters, without realizing what the change meant to your soul. You were again brought into bondage to the prince of tyrants. “The meaner the master, the worse the bondage.”

Paul asked the poor backslidden Galatians, “After that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?” Gal. 4: 9.

Is it not remarkable that the liberated soul should desire his fetters again? O, how strange, how cruelly strange, that after Christ has opened the prison doors of sin, and set the captive free, he should return to his prison, and toil away at the hard treadmill of sin!

But who has not had something of that experience? Who at times has not felt forsaken of God? Then is the time to exercise faith, and, like Christ in His darkest hour on the cross, commit the soul into the keeping of infinite power.

Perchance you have been walking in darkness for many a weary month. But take courage. There is relief for all who have departed from the living God. “Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God, . . . and ye have not obeyed My voice, saith the Lord. Turn, O backsliding children, saith the Lord: for I am married unto you, . . . and I will bring you to Zion.” Jer. 3: 13, 14.

Your Saviour is able to bring you to Zion, and He invites you to reverse your downward footsteps. Listen to His loving plea:

“Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” Matt. 11: 28-30.

Dear backslider, yoke up with Christ once more. Exchange your weary load for His light burden, and your galling yoke for His easy one. Experience once more the peace of pardoned sin. Turn your footsteps toward your heavenly Father's house, and you may rest assured that He will meet you afar off.

If you take one step toward your Liberator, He will take two toward you. He will hasten His pace, throw His arms of infinite love around you, clothe you in His royal robe of righteousness, and give you a seat at the marriage supper of the Lamb in the city of God.

Turn before it is forever too late. E. HILLIARD.