It Was Gradual

It was a cold, snowy winter afternoon, when Joash was walking home from the shops. Feeling too cold to continue, he turned into a church to keep warm. Upon entering the church, Joash was astonished at the eyes of everyone who were glued on the old man at the front.

Joash unfortunately, sat just as the old man was wrapping up, but determine to ask the old man a question.

Joash approached him and said, “Excuse me, sir, how did you leave God and find Him again?

 “My backslide was a gradual, I first lied to myself thinking I could pull myself out of the mess I was in, the same way I had done in the past, until one time, I could not anymore.

For a while, I had persuaded myself I had committed the unpardonable sin. Then, one day, stumbling upon a street preacher, who said told, " the unforgivable sin is any unconfessed sin; sin is only forgivable if it is confessed to God, who promises to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)

The old man paused.... looking into Joash blue eyes. Then said, “my son, will you say God is a liar of his word, or will you make him a liar by saying this verse cannot be for me?”

“I had a choice to make,” he said softly, “and so do you.”