I know of a person who previously kept the Sabbath and all of God's holy days. He grew up in the Church and attended Ambassador College. He then went on to become a pastor, but left when the split occurred over 20 years ago. Perhaps you can think of others who have left also? This man's life has had a profound effect on me because I just can't fathom how a once deeply converted person with God's Holy Spirit can just walk away from it all. He now lives in the world no longer attending services nor keeping the holy days. The fruits of his actions are completely worldly and he doesn't see the danger in any of this. If asked he would say he is very happy and doing what he enjoys. It's as if he does not have a care in the world. Deception indeed has set in and it breaks my heart.

To return to the old way of life we once knew before being called out of the world would be the most awful thing I could imagine. God refers to this as a dog returning to its own vomit, or a pig wallowing in the mud after being washed (2 Peter 2:22). To give up everlasting life in God's Kingdom for some temporary benefit now seems utter lunacy to me.

The time will come when some will hear the words "I never knew you; depart from me, you who practise lawlessness!" (Matthew 7:23) out of Christ's mouth. I shudder at these words, which evoke feelings of despair and complete devastation. Surely none desire to hear these words? And yet some will. How can we avoid this happening to any one of us?

The Master Deceiver and Destroyer

We know there is a devil in this world who is very active and single-mindedly set on our destruction. He will tempt us and try to fill our heads with all sorts of lies (John 8:44). He knows he has the people out there in the world deceived so he comes after us, God's children. He wants us so badly he will stop at nothing to try to pull us away from God.

Ephesians 4:27 tells us not to give opportunity to the devil. Paul says, "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil" (1 Thessalonians 5:16-22). Every single day we must be completely focused on our Father and doing His will. We have to navigate all the distractions that threaten to engulf us with effort in diligence. Anything less is folly.

We are told, "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" (Isaiah 5:20). God is telling us to practice discernment correctly on all matters and not to mix them up in any way. My friend has mixed these up somehow through becoming separated from God.

He can no longer rightly discern what's sin and what's not. His heart has become hardened and deceived. One of the first things he said to me was "I'm not even afraid of God any more". Somehow he became complacent and compromise set in. His conscience is no longer seared and sin doesn't hold its sting any more. He is completely desensitized and pride is involved. How many of us remember that we thought we were doing alright and were good people when we were out there in the world? That was when I truly had no idea who God is. Yet, those who have been followers of God and now reject Him, once knew better.

Wisdom from God's Word

Remember what Solomon said in Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every work into judgement, including every secret thing, whether it is good or whether it is evil".

In the book of Hebrews God is advising us on the importance of progress. He says: "For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted that good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame" (Hebrews 6:4-6).

This means that God only gives His Holy Spirit once. He will never take it away from anyone who is willing to put time and effort into conforming to Christ's way of life. Conversely, if we refuse to repent or don't see the need to repent, only then are we at risk of losing God's Holy Spirit.

Does this frighten you? It does me. I don't like being frightened. I will do anything to remove this scary scenario from my life. So every time there is a temptation, a test or trial, I need to remember my friend who has chosen a different path…a path which leads to death.