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There was a time when little Davey showed great interest in the things of God. He was always happy to attend church with his parents, eager to answer questions in Sunday school, and glad to listen to the word of God preached by Pastor Charles. |
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At home he would ask his parents
questions about the bible, God, and heaven. Little Davey had the heart of a
child. Before bed he would get on his knees to pray; “Dear
Lord, please give me the gift of Salvation and please keep my Mom and Dad safe
and take us all to heaven” would be his childhood prayer night after night.
This was a time when Davey showed a fear of God and a desire to please Him. |
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But as Davey got older things started
to change. He was becoming less and less interested in the things of God. Participating
in Sunday school was now something he was less likely to do, and instead of paying
attention to the Sermon messages as he once did, Davey was now being told by
his parents to stop sleeping in church. “Stay awake Davey! This is not the
place to sleep.” His mother and father would at times admonish him, but Davey
seldom listened. |
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On some Sundays, Pastor Charles
preached on: ·
The total Depravity of man, ·
Man’s need to have his sins forgiven, and ·
Christ being the only One that can forgive sins. |
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The church paid close attention,
but not Davey. He was usually asleep, much to the displeasure of his parents. |
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On other occasions, Pastor Charles would: ·
Warn the congregation of the reality of hell, ·
Instruct them on the need for repentance, and ·
Point the congregation to the Cross of Christ |
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The church took heed to the warnings, but not Davey. He slept through those messages, too. It did not matter how many times Davey’s parents tried to reason with him, entreated him, or scolded him, it did little to move him. Sadly, Davey’s heart was becoming hardened to the things of God. When it came to the pleasures of the world, Davey showed great excitement. His heart was then lifted up with joy, but this was not the case as it pertained to God. |
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As Davey grew older, he began to
show an increasing stubbornness towards his parents. This stubbornness
eventually grew into rebellion towards them and God. Davey’s parents were heartbroken
over their son; to see the one that they loved and tried to raise in the fear
of the Lord to then be in rebellion towards Him… Because of his hardened and
unrepentant heart, the Lord permitted Davey to be drawn into the world; drawn into
darkness, away from light. This was quite sad. As a little boy Davey prayed, “Dear
Lord, please give me the gift of Salvation and please keep my Mom and Dad safe
and take us all to heaven.” He had the heart of a child then. His parents and
other members of the church are praying for him. May the Lord yet show mercy to
Davey. |
But if God loves us — He will oppose us, when we are found in forbidden paths!
He will lay the 'thorns' in our way!
He will wound us — in order to restore us!
The wounded child will go home for healing — for the sense of pain and danger will humble its proud and haughty spirit.
Beloved, when you find 'thorns' in your path, just stop and ask,
"Am I in the right road?
Is this the true pilgrim's path?
Does this way lead to my Father's house?"
For the 'thorns' are intended to . . .
awaken inquiry,
produce reflection, and
bring to repentance.
We often see and feel the thorns — but we do not see the hand that laid them in our path. Perhaps we do not dream that it is our heavenly Father — but are ready to say, "An enemy has done this!"
sometimes bodily afflictions,
sometimes losses and crosses, and
sometimes opposition from worldly men.
But whatever may be the nature of the thorns — our Father Himself laid them in our path!
My soul, you are "bent upon backsliding, even as a backsliding heifer." Your heart is as a broken bow, treacherous to the arrow fixed upon the string, and ready for its flight. Your purposes of good formed, but thwarted; resolutions of amendment made, but broken; plans of usefulness laid, but frustrated; prayers for grace offered, but forgotten; desires and aspirations after God sent up, but, through a deceitful and wicked heart, dissolving into air. Oh! how many and aggravated have your backslidings from God been--backslidings in heart, backslidings in deed--secret wanderings, open wanderings. You have "left your first love," have "forgotten your resting-place;" and, straying from the cross, have gone back to walk no more with Jesus. Truly, your "heart is like a deceitful bow."
But, has the Lord, by some gentle movement of His grace, or by some solemn event of His providence, aroused, overtaken, arrested you? Has He set a hedge around your path, that you could not find your lovers, bringing you to reflection, to penitence, to prayer? Then, listen, O my soul, to the gracious words of your "first husband;" "Yet return again to Me, says the Lord."
Spiritual restoration implies a spiritual re-conversion. In this sense we are to interpret our Lord's words to His fallen apostle Peter--"When you are converted, strengthen your brethren,"--that is, when you are restored, recovered, turned back again, employ your restored grace, the experience you have derived, and the lessons you have learned by your fall and recovery, in strengthening your weak brethren--in warning and exhorting, in restoring and comforting those who have been alike tempted, and have alike fallen.
There is something very expressive, tender, and touching in the word--"Again." "Yet return again." It sounds like the "forgiveness of seventy times seven." Lord! I have wandered from You times without number--"Yet return again." Lord! I have so often sinned and repented--"Yet return again." Lord! You have received and forgiven me more than seventy times seven--"Yet return again." Lord! I come confessing the same sins, deploring the same backslidings, acknowledging the same self-will and base ingratitude--"Yet return again to me, says the Lord." Then, Lord! I come with weeping, and mourning, and confession, since Your tenderness, grace, and changeless love, and outstretched hand bid me.
"Return to Me." My soul, rest not until you rest in Jesus. Let nothing come between your returning heart and your advancing, loving, forgiving Father. There is no true return of a backsliding believer but that which takes him past his repentance, past his tears, past his confessions, past his amendments, past his minister, and brings him at once close to Christ. There is no healing of the hurt, no binding up of the wound, no cleansing, no peace, no comfort, no joy, but as the soul comes to the blood, and nestles once more within the very heart of Jesus. "Return unto ME."
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May the Lord yet show mercy to Davey. |
