Preventing Backsliding

       What is backsliding, and how do we prevent it to stop a complete falling away? Some might argue that it is not possible to fall away once you believe or are baptized, but that is another discussion for another day. Backsliding, simply put, is when you begin committing sins, usually small ones at first then gradually increase them, after you are a Christian, until complete apostasy (or a falling away) occurs. In man's world, problems occur all the time, and man tries to come up with ways to prevent these problems. In medicine, hospital workers are trained to wash hands when entering and leaving a patients room to prevent the spread of disease. In the auto industry, car makers are constantly inventing new and safer cars to prevent accidents and injury such as seat belts, airbags and new braking systems. So are there ways to prevent one from falling away from God so he/she can do as God wants? Here are some things to consider.
       We should let God SAY something to us every day. I don't mean by His physical voice, but by His Holy Word. Psalms 119:105 "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." When we listen to God, we don't have to be afraid and walk in the dark. Psalms 1:1-2 "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night." When we walk in the dark, we use flashlights to guide our way, and show us any dangers that might lay ahead. His Word is our light to show us the dangers of the world, if we would just listen. We should take great delight in listening to God talk to us.
       When we listen to the Word and read the Bible, we should do more than just take a mere glance at the particular subject, but study the complete topic to hear all God is trying to tell us. Jesus told us He wants us to study the scriptures. John 5:39 "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me." Paul tells us in his letter in 2 Timothy 2:15 "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman need not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." Not only are we told to study the scriptures, but we are given an example of some who did this in the first century in Acts 17:11 "These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so." Why would all the time and effort be taken to write the Bible if God felt there was little need to study it daily? Did you ever know of someone backsliding who allowed God to talk to them everyday? We are far more likely to fall away when we stop searching the scriptures daily.
       We should also Say something TO God every day, not only starting our day off with a prayer to Him, but pray throughout the day. We should thank Him for our many blessings, and no matter your situation, you have many. Not to thank Him shows ingratitude for all that He has done, including giving us His only son to be crucified for us. One preacher put it this way, "Either prayer will stop sin, or sin will stop prayer." This goes along with studying of the scriptures, because if we don't His Word and do as He commands, why should He listen to us? The Bible says this in Proverbs 28:9 "He that turneth away his ear from ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be an abomination." Too many people think that God will listen to us and grant our prayers without listening to Him. This is not the case though as we just read in Proverbs.
       You can always tell much about a man when he is a faithful praying man. A faithful man is filled with love, is kind and normally is one who will do all that he can to help someone else. An angry, hateful person is usually one who does not pray or read the scriptures. James 5:16 "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."
       We should also make sure we say something FOR God everyday. Many are afraid to stand up and say something about God for fear of being ridiculed. We live in a world today where we must tiptoe around and be careful what we say so as not to offend. But when it comes to God, what does He think of us if we don't stand up for Him, or teach someone about Him? When we talk, our speech should have more of God in it so others can learn more about Him. After all, it our job to spread the Word and bring lost souls to Him, or bring those who have fallen away, back to Him. This is the greatest work we can do. James 5:19-20 "Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins."
       There are opportunities that we find ourselves in everyday where we should be speaking for God. Philippians 1:27 "Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye started fast with one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel." We should not be ignoring these chances speak up for God, and you never know when you might be saving a soul, and help us from losing ours.
       Finally, we should DO something for God everyday. Our days of full of things that we do, whether it be work, school, playing golf or fishing, we do something. However, most if not all of what we do, has anything to do with God. We should look for opportunities to do something good in the name of God. Galatians 6:10 "As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith."
       One of the greatest things we can do as a Christian is let our light shine, show men what our good works are all about. Matthew 5:16 "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." We should let our light shine, but not shine our lights. We have all seen the T.V. evangelists who thrive on the attention the receive, instead of letting the Word of God be the center. Some of us go to a certain church, or watch someone because of how entertaining they are, but the lesson we are learning from are often times far from the truth. If we do something for God, no matter what it is, it is never in vain. 2 Corinthians 15:58 "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, foreasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."
       So if we do these four things, letting God say something to us, saying something to God, saying something for God, and doing something for God, everyday, we will live righteously, and have no fear of slipping down that slope of apostasy. The Israelites in the Old Testament failed to do this, and every other generation would fall away, and God would punish them for this. We cannot be like them, but we must do as God says, for He loves us and wants to us to be happy, truly happy. It is amazing how good your and satisfying your life will be, not to mention your eternal salvation.