Message
The Bible warns us not to keep company with backsliders, as clearly states that a companion of fools will be destroyed. God’s glory does not cover backsliders; they can only continue on a steady downward path, eventually experiencing nakedness and shame if they do not repent and return to God as the prodigal son did ().
As a Christian, you should pray for the restoration of anyone around you who backslides from following Jesus, and do your best to lead such a fellow back to the Lord. However, the moment you discover that he or she is not willing to yield, separate yourself from the fellow because companions of fools will be destroyed. Separating yourself from such a person, however, does not stop you from praying for his or her restoration. I pray that the Lord will keep your heart from straying from Him, in Jesus’ name.
Today’s Bible reading tells us that it is better for someone not to have known the Lord than for a person who has known the way of righteousness to turn back, as he or she is like a dog returning to its vomit. A dog returns to its vomit because it is attracted to the undigested food particles in it. Similarly, backsliders usually return to their past sinful habits because they still find them attractive. This is foolishness, as describes a fool as someone who enjoys wrongdoing. establishes a strong connection between dogs and fools, and says: “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God…” Only a fool would say that there is no God because it is unmistakably evident that God is real. Even people who have never received any form of formal education and are considered illiterate know that God exists.
Beloved, one sign that you are truly following God is that sin becomes repulsive to you. You cannot follow Jesus sincerely and be attracted to lying, immorality, and every other form of sin. The wrong things you used to do before Jesus saved you should no longer be attractive to you. If you used to cheat, steal, or backbite, you will no longer feel comfortable doing them.
Child of God, do you find your former sinful ways attractive? Run to God for help today before the devil lures you back into sin. When you run to God for help, He will restore you and give you the grace to overcome the devil’s temptations.