As elaborately described in the sermon of Charles Finney, the state of backsliding heart is usually can be known how deep is the love of God is found in the heart. Particularly in Christian life, we are prone to worship God as regular Church attendees. For some Christian that is all about Christian life, they will not have the desire to grow into the intimate relationship with the Lord.
Thus Finney has point to tell about the state of the backsliding heart. While worshipping God as regular – routinely cycled activities every Sundays, we might not be even considering of the King in whose Kingdom we are serving for. This point also seems so obvious in John Wesley, who in the racking ship kept his fear of death so much forceful at the point of questioning himself if he was truly believing in God! I always remember a statement someone saying that we Christian leaders are too much busy in the Kingdom that we have not time to recall that we are serving the King! This statement has the same idea that Finney rises in his sermon. Sometime I really wander if I have not trusted the Lord with fully surrendering attitude, when I keep my self busy and usually my business keeps me from prayer and personal time with God and His Word. I can assume myself in such condition, thus the sermon spurs me to be ready to confess and recommit or renew my faith in my Lord Jesus Christ. It gives me a ground to ask a question to myself, “Am I continue in the first love?” Many times, I have checked myself in the light of my personal relationship with the Lord. Whatever circumstances would come, for me and my household will worship the Lord God forever!
Backsliding state of heart is to be withdrawn from the awareness of oneself that the Lord is always with him or her. He never forsakes neither forgets, He keep His eyes open to us all the times. This conviction will always help one to continue remain in Him. It is about a state of self-consecration to God and His service. This constitutes a person’s conversion truly true. That gives assurance that he or she is really a Christian – a boldness of being His witness for all the times no matter of any difficult circumstances. It is also a true spirituality of a believer that his devotion to God never ceases at any situation. What a tremendous courage we need to have for this simple confession! I believe this can be possible only by His grace, on our own it is impossible.
It made me rethink of the John Wesley’s condition, how he was preaching the message of salvation to the people who were facing at the mouth of struggling with life and death together with him. What a surface faith! He was preaching out of his usual conviction that believing in Christ is to get the license to heaven. But how he can believe that he could enter into heaven without facing death? Was he believing that he would not die physically? I think not, but why he was frozen by fear of death? Interestingly, he was rebuked by the scene of the Moravian Brethren who were in peace at dread moment of the ship crack. They simply responded to Wesley saying, “Our women and children are not afraid to die.” Such was the “glorious” moment to Wesley and became one of the leading figure of the Evangelical Awakining.
Finney gives an expansion of the condition of the backsliding heart, that includes religious enjoyment, bondage to slavery, uncontrolled temper, hatred, bitterness or unforgiveness etc. These are, according to Paul, fruits of the sinful nature of man. In a brief, these readings gave me a brand new time to recall, renew and recommit myself to God for the life of ministry to His kingdom.
Republished in new layout 6/11/2013
