Could It Be I? Four Reasons People Backslide

In Chapter 16 of The Pilgrim’s Progress, Christian and Hopeful are still not out of danger, but to keep themselves from falling asleep on the enchanted ground they engage in profitable and edifying conversation.

For a while, Ignorance and his stubborn character dominated their conversations until Christian suggested that they change the topic.

Christian began asking Hopeful if he knew a man by the name of Mr. Temporary who was short and lived in the same region as Hopeful.

Hopeful knew of Mr. Temporary and were once friends. Hopeful also recounted a time when he saw Mr. Temporary experienced an awakening. Unfortunately his story changed after he met Save-self, Hopeful said,

“He started to treat me like a stranger, and from then on I saw him suddenly backslide.”

 Christian Asked:

“Why do so many people like Mr Temporary backslide?”

Hopeful Replied: Sharing his four reasons

1.  First, after their conscience is awakened by the Spirit, their minds remain unchanged. Therefore, when the strength of their guilty feelings wears off, that which drove them to be religious ceases. So, quite naturally they return to their former ways again.

This is like a dog that is sick from what he has eaten. As long as the sickness persists, he will keep vomiting it up.

He doesn't do this on purpose but because his stomach is upset. But as soon as the sickness is over and his stomach is soothed, because his desires are not at all alienated from his vomit, he turns around and licks it right back up. So, what is written is true, 'A dog returns to its vomit. 2 Peter 2:22

2.  The second reason that Hopeful gave for why people backslide is that they have a fear of men. This fear is seen when people are more concerned with pleasing others than pleasing God.

3.  The third reason is that many people, while professing to have accepted Christ, choose to remain prideful while they have a low view towards religion. For such individuals, the fear of hell was their motivation being in church, but when that fear disappeared, they were quick return to their formal ways.

4.  The fourth reason that Hopeful gave is that people are fearful of facing the future misery and terror of hell, and therefore, instead of fleeing to God as the righteous would do, instead they try to drown their guilt and terror by engaging in many sorts things that causes them to temporarily feel all is well.

From this four points we learn to be stirred is not good enough if we are not transformed. Even myself I had to pray this morning,"Lord, I do not want to be convicted, I need to be converted."

In conclusion, there is no need for me to recap what we have just learnt from the four reasons why people backslide, but there is every reason to ask ourselves the question that the disciples asked Jesus, “Lord could it be I?” Matthew 26:21-22

 Friend, it does not have to be you. You can go down to your knees and pray to the Father to keep you because you cannot keep yourself, and He will keep you because He has promised. (John 6:37)

This is so, because your hope of being saved depends not on your grip on Him, but on His firm grip on you.