Earlier this week, every daily Bible reading seemed to focus to a single theme – Christians who, after experiencing the grace of God begin to mourn the loss of their old lifestyle. In the past, I have come across a lot of Christians that will eagerly share, with much excitement, the old life that God called them from. Now while sharing a testimony of how the Lord found you is a powerful personal evangelism/witnessing tool, for a handful of Christians there is that attitude of “them were the days…” or “wow, those were some parties back in the day…” I once knew a gentleman that actually told me that since he had become a Christian, he missed the camaraderie and fellowship that he had with his lost friends.
Even the apostle Paul was confounded by Christians who longed for their old lives. He even wrote to the early Christians at Galatia, Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. But now, 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? (Galatians 4:8-9). There were Christians in that church that not only longed for the “good old days” but also longed to worship the old gods through the old faith. Maybe it is because of a lack of discipleship or maybe their acceptance of Christ was from the head and not the heart, but they truly felt that they better understood their old faith – a religious system created by man – than the liberating force and faith that Christianity truly is.
Even Solomon, the wisest of all Jewish kings, wrote, As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly (Proverbs 26:11). The apostle Peter understood this proverb and even used it as a part in his discussion on those who make a profession of faith and then long for the old life: These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire (II Peter 2:17-22).
Peter refers to these people as being “wells without water” because of the impact they can have on other people. By still hanging on to the things of the world and of the flesh as a Christian, they are not only causing a crisis of faith for weaker Christians, but they are also deceiving themselves. As a Christian, our sins are forgiven – And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses (Colossians 2:13) – but it does not give a license for us to continue to willfully live and seek out the pleasures of sin. Even the apostle Paul explained this to the Christians and early church in Rome: For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid (Romans 6:14-15). We should never willfully seek to disregard the grace of God!
The Lord Jesus Christ was not silent on this very topic either. During one of Jesus’ many travels during his earthly ministry, he had a conversation with a few members of the crowd that followed after him: And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God (Luke 9:57-62). I think that it is telling that each man that approached Jesus wanted to follow him, but only after they did one more thing before they could go. Jesus then gives us his view on those who accept salvation then longs for their old life, with its sin and depravity. Jesus tells us they are not fit for the kingdom of God. I often have wondered if that is because their salvation was not real and they are actually lost but had become caught up in the emotion of the moment or if they are the ones that will be in Heaven, but upon understanding God’s grace, will weep out of their own embarrassment and shame before Jesus wipes away their tears.
As Christians, when we choose to live a carnal life much like we did before we accepted Christ as our Savoir, we remove ourselves from a place of blessings and fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ. I often wonder why would anyone want to turn back to their old life, because before they knew God, they lost to his grace. The apostle Paul states, For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23), and with this in mind, an eternal separation from God to be cast into the lake of fire for eternity does not sound like much cause for rejoicing or celebrating. In fact, Jesus gives a description of what it will be like: And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched (Mark 9:45). What a bleak outlook for anyone that has never accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their savior! Why would any blood-bought Christian want to hold onto the old fleshly nature knowing what their eternal destination would have been if not for the grace of God?
