How long will God allow a believer to
backslide? Do you know or are you clueless like me? Goodness, this is such a troubling question that has occupied the minds of all Christians at one time or
another. I recently attended a funeral that caused me to ponder this very
question. Was this person saved or not? I don’t know; it ended so badly! So let
me say at the outset that only God
knows the heart of man (Jer 17:10), bottom line, but that does not render fruit
indicators of the faithful life irrelevant (Mt 7:16; Gal 5:22-23).
The problem is created when a person
claims to be a Christian, but for years they have lived a life contrary to the
teaching of Scripture, becoming an even more delicate matter should he or she
die while having nothing to do with the church or marginal at best. He or she
may have claimed to have had an experience, but it turns out to be an
experience that never changed the life, or profession without possession (Holy
Spirit) perhaps?
This article in no way shape or form is espousing easy-believism, for I know firsthand that Christianity can be very challenging, even though our lives are not being threatened for practicing Christianity in America. I want to begin by bringing to your attention a person in the Bible who messed up his life to such an extent I have labeled him as a righteous failure. I have always tried to be careful to give a Bible character the benefit of the doubt, but in my estimation, this guy was simply a righteous failure. In fact, the only thing he ever did right in his life was that he believed in the LORD, and the LORD accounted it to him for righteousness. There is no direct statement of this happening like Abram (Gn 15:6; Heb 11:8), but we will make the case, nonetheless, that it did take place. His name was Lot, nephew to Abraham.
If we only had the bio on his life
from the Old Testament, most would say this man lived a life without God if we
didn’t catch the inference to being righteous in the dialogue between Abram and
Yahweh (Gn 18:23, 32), and the confirmation of being righteous by the angelic
extraction of Lot from the doomed city of Sodom. Let’s take a quick flyby of his
life to show you what I mean.
When Abram, Sarai, and Lot journeyed into Canaan, Lot
revealed that he was self-centered and greedy (Gn 13:8-11); he lived and made a
living in a very wicked city eventually slated for destruction (Gn 13:12-13;
14:12); he returned to Sodom after
being rescued by Abram (Gn 14:12, 16; 19:1); he offered his daughters to the
Sodomites to protect his guests (Gn 19:8); he lost his testimony (Gn 19:14); he
hesitated to leave Sodom and was forcefully escorted by the angels out of Sodom
(Gn 19:16); and he got drunk and had sex with his daughters (Gn 19:32-36). His
descendants were idol worshipers (Gn 19:37-38, the Moabites and Ammonites turned
out to be perpetual enemies of Israel; cf. Lot's legacy: Psa 83:8). Sounds like a pretty solid bio of a man
who loved the Lord, doesn’t it!
Lot’s world was so spiritually
diminutive in contrast to his uncle Abram’s spiritual life. Abram’s life
wasn’t perfect; however, Lot’s life was an unmitigated disaster that could have
been avoided if only he had followed his uncle’s pattern of living. Lot dwelt
in a fixed structure in Sodom (Gn 19:3). Abram dwelt in tents (Heb 11:9). Lot
“lifted his eyes and saw all the plain of Jordan, that it was well
watered everywhere (before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah) like the
garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt as you go toward Zoar” (Gn 13:10).
Abram was “looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and
builder is God” (Heb 11:10, NIV; Heb 11:13-16, NIV).
Yes, Abram had accumulated a lot of stuff in his day, but his
eyes were not on the things of the world like his nephew Lot. Abram longed for a heavenly
country (cf. Heb 11:8-10). Abram was heavenly-minded or spiritual (vertical orientation), but Lot was earthly-minded or worldly (horizontal orientation).
Lot’s problem was that his whole life was characterized by worldliness which prevented him from growing spiritually and being blessed by God even though the wicked deeds of the inhabitants of Sodom tore him out of the frame, torturing his soul day in and day out! The meaning of his name may give us some insight into our man Lot.
His name means a “covering” [Heb, Lôṭ, H3876 = H3875). This masculine noun is only translated as “covering” (H3875) in Isa 25:7. Lôṭ comes from the verbal root word, lûṭ (H3874, pronounced loot). Lûṭ occurs only three times in the OT. It is translated as “wrapped” in 1 Sam 21:9 and 1 Kgs 19:13. Both of these verses refer to the cloth being wrapped around an object: Goliath’s sword (1 Sam 21:9) and Elijah’s face (1 Kgs 19:13). In Isa 25:7 lûṭ is translated “cast.” What Isaiah does is combine the masculine noun “covering” (H3875) with its root the verb “cast” (H3874) in order to emphasize the completeness of the covering. Read Isaiah’s words concerning this.
And He will destroy H1104 on this mountain H2022 the surface H6440 of the covering H3875 (lot) cast over H3874 (lut) all people H5971, and the veil H4541 that is spread H5259 over all nations H1471 (Isa 25:7, note: these number references refer to Strong’s concordance numbering system).
Commentators are divided on the meaning of the covering and veil in Isa 25:7. It has been referred to as a covering or veil of ignorance, blindness (cf. 2 Cor 3:14-16), darkness, death, misconception and prejudice, and so forth. Some believe that covering and veil are speaking of the same thing; others make a distinction (like me, a slight one). Most conservative commentators believe this passage takes place at the end of the millennial reign of Christ after Satan, death, and hell are cast into the lake of fire (Rev 20:10, 14), and there is a new heaven and new earth (Rev 21:1, 4).
The goal of this article is not to
camp out in the Isaiah passage, but to gain insight into Lot’s spiritual problem
that may outline and identify the problem with some believers today living a
life, let’s say, less than fruitful for quite some time. One commentator
commented on covering and veil in Isaiah 25:7 by saying that the only
difference between the two nouns, covering (lôṭ) and veil (massēḵāh, H4541)
is that the leading idea of the former is completeness while the latter is the thickness (Keil & Delitzsch, Commentary
on the Old Testament), interesting.
The reason I even mentioned the above
statement by K&D is that a covering or a veil share a similar function;
both prevent the eyes from seeing the object. I believe Lot’s covering was
worldliness as it is for all carnal believers. Worldliness is not God-like (in
Lot’s case) or Christlikeness (in a Christian’s case). Worldliness prevents the illumination of spiritual truth; it keeps us from seeing, loving, and
obeying God. If you recall the root word for covering is lûṭ (H3874). It
is used in a figurative sense of “the
inability of persons to perceive something clearly” (Zodhiates, The Complete Word Study Dictionary).
This happens when there is a covering or veil allowed to come between God and us! In the case of Lot, it resulted in an inability to perceive clearly God and His works because of a covering or veil of worldliness created by sinful attitudes and behavior. This was so Lot! Righteous though he may be, he certainly was not where God wanted him, and his worldliness kept him outside the will of God. Ah, this can be so us! Lot was on a slippery slope by being constantly exposed to the values of the worldly world, choosing the earthy over the spiritual. The covering of his own making brought him to ruin. Should we choose to go beyond the fringes of faith, the path of Lot, the longer we linger the greater the danger.
This happens when there is a covering or veil allowed to come between God and us! In the case of Lot, it resulted in an inability to perceive clearly God and His works because of a covering or veil of worldliness created by sinful attitudes and behavior. This was so Lot! Righteous though he may be, he certainly was not where God wanted him, and his worldliness kept him outside the will of God. Ah, this can be so us! Lot was on a slippery slope by being constantly exposed to the values of the worldly world, choosing the earthy over the spiritual. The covering of his own making brought him to ruin. Should we choose to go beyond the fringes of faith, the path of Lot, the longer we linger the greater the danger.
Lot never took risks of spiritual
obedience, and not taking a stand for godliness doesn't require courage in a dark world. He wanted the best of both worlds, and it doesn’t work that way; it
never does, no exceptions. He understood the difference between right and wrong
and never participated in the wickedness in Sodom, but he made a zero moral impact when making moral pronouncements during his stay at Sodom. It was like trying to dissolve a rock of resistance with a squirt gun. When the angels showed up his "judging" was no longer tolerated (cf. Gn 19:9). He never developed his
faith like his uncle because he was strangely fastened to this morally twisted environment, and what it
had to offer. Perhaps business was good, but his clients were bad, really bad. It played havoc with his soul, but he continued to stay!
Abram and Lot could
not have been further apart, running on two separate tracks and going in opposite
directions though both were righteous before God! Two prime examples of Lot’s
pitiful and anemic faith are these. (1) He never connected the dots when he was
rescued by his uncle (Gen 14:14, 16) that God was attempting to get Lot away
from Sodom. God knew, but not Lot, that Sodom was destined for destruction. Lot
didn’t ask a vital question to himself, “Maybe God doesn’t want me here?” or
“Maybe God is trying to tell me something important?”
Worldliness dampens those
spiritual punctuations. No, he moved right back into the belly of the beast
with his family! It borders on being spiritually idiotic (2) Even with the
insistence of the angels Lot was reluctant in leaving Sodom; God had to
forcibly remove Lot, his wife, and two daughters (Gn 19:15, 16) from there
before the cities of the Jordan valley were “nuked” (Gn 19:24, 25) because
their sin was very grave (Gen 18:20).
Do you think those men attempting to break down Lot's door driven by their uncontrollable lust to have sex with those angels disguised as men were lost (Gn 19:5-9)? Okay, let's put away our judge-not card, and vote, yes! They died in the rain of fire and brimstone upon the plain with the rest of the living (Gn 19:24-25). These men pursuing Lot’s two guests physically never saw their end coming (Gn 19:11). The spiritually blind (1 Cor 2:14; 2 Cor 4:4) will never see their end coming. It will simply happen without warning, and all who do not have the Holy Spirit living within the heart will be gone forever into everlasting darkness….
Do you think those men attempting to break down Lot's door driven by their uncontrollable lust to have sex with those angels disguised as men were lost (Gn 19:5-9)? Okay, let's put away our judge-not card, and vote, yes! They died in the rain of fire and brimstone upon the plain with the rest of the living (Gn 19:24-25). These men pursuing Lot’s two guests physically never saw their end coming (Gn 19:11). The spiritually blind (1 Cor 2:14; 2 Cor 4:4) will never see their end coming. It will simply happen without warning, and all who do not have the Holy Spirit living within the heart will be gone forever into everlasting darkness….
Though there is no
record in the OT that righteousness was ever imputed to Lot (cf. Gn 15:6), let me repeat what I stated earlier; the
conversation between Yahweh and Abram (Gen 18:23, 32), and Lot’s angelic
extraction are proof he was in
righteous standing before Yahweh as much as Abram! Further evidence will
be forthcoming from the New Testament shortly. He wasn’t spiritual and living for
God by any means except for stressing over the exceedingly wicked activities of the inhabitants of Sodom, but he was, nevertheless, a righteous man in the sight of the Lord. Even though Lot was a
nephew of the patriarch of our faith, there is really nothing positive you can
say about Lot, except for imputed righteousness.
His life shatters entrenched preconceived notions of judging by the outer appearance (1 Sam 16:7). How long will God allow a believer to backslide? Lot was saved just like his uncle Abraham, but he was a righteous failure in life; no matter how many worthless works are comprised in a believer’s life, he or she will never forfeit salvation (cf. 1 Cor 3:15)! Lot is definitely an OT illustration of this. The Bema seat is strictly focused on a believer’s works, not the penalty of sin which was addressed at the cross. The believer’s salvation is never in question at the Bema, only of their quality of service to the LORD.
Now, before you accuse me of promoting disobedience or easy-believism, answer this question; would you trade lives with Lot? I didn’t think so. Disobedience doesn’t pay; it never has, and it never will. Worldliness is very costly and causes all kinds of problems here and at the Bema as far as rewards are concerned. Enough said about that. Let’s read what Peter said about Lot in his epistle.
2Pe 2:7 and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed [distressed] by the filthy conduct [lifestyle] of the wicked
His life shatters entrenched preconceived notions of judging by the outer appearance (1 Sam 16:7). How long will God allow a believer to backslide? Lot was saved just like his uncle Abraham, but he was a righteous failure in life; no matter how many worthless works are comprised in a believer’s life, he or she will never forfeit salvation (cf. 1 Cor 3:15)! Lot is definitely an OT illustration of this. The Bema seat is strictly focused on a believer’s works, not the penalty of sin which was addressed at the cross. The believer’s salvation is never in question at the Bema, only of their quality of service to the LORD.
Now, before you accuse me of promoting disobedience or easy-believism, answer this question; would you trade lives with Lot? I didn’t think so. Disobedience doesn’t pay; it never has, and it never will. Worldliness is very costly and causes all kinds of problems here and at the Bema as far as rewards are concerned. Enough said about that. Let’s read what Peter said about Lot in his epistle.
2Pe 2:7 and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed [distressed] by the filthy conduct [lifestyle] of the wicked
2Pe 2:8 (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented [kept on tormenting
or vexing] his righteous soul
from day to day [day in day out] by seeing and hearing their [because of
their] lawless deeds)—
Okay, did you catch the obvious adjective, righteous! Why in the name of God did Lot put up with that mess, and why in the world would he go back into the pigpen after being carted off by Chedorlaomer and his allies and rescued by his uncle Abe? He even lollygagged in leaving Sodom under angelic insistence? Worldliness can have a powerful pull if we empower it (contrast Gal 5:16), warping the mind of spiritual sensibilities. Worldliness can drive any of us to that lot in life if we are not careful (cf. 1 Cor 3:15).
Getting back to how long God will allow a believer to backslide we cannot definitively say since only God knows the heart. Lot is a good example of why we should be careful in judging whether a person is saved or not. Here is the rub; why would a person who claims to love Jesus want to live a worldly life that causes genuine believers to be confused as to whether a person is saved or not? When spiritual people cannot tell the difference whether you are saved or unsaved by your attitude and behavior, there is a serious problem with the backslider, and he or she is in no position to pull a judge not card as if that gives them a pass on disobedience and for others to mind their own business.
Jesus only cautioned believers not to judge hypocritically in the context of Mt 7:1 and Lk 6:37, but He never prohibited righteous judgment (cf. Jn 7:24). Those verses are taken so out of context by the world and many believers that it’s a comic tragedy. The judge-not card is usually pulled by the self-righteous and those caught in some kind of sinful behavior which has been my observation. If you claim to be an apple tree, show the world your apples! Now Jesus said we can know them by their fruit (cf. Mt 7:16, 20; Gal 5:22-23).
Okay, did you catch the obvious adjective, righteous! Why in the name of God did Lot put up with that mess, and why in the world would he go back into the pigpen after being carted off by Chedorlaomer and his allies and rescued by his uncle Abe? He even lollygagged in leaving Sodom under angelic insistence? Worldliness can have a powerful pull if we empower it (contrast Gal 5:16), warping the mind of spiritual sensibilities. Worldliness can drive any of us to that lot in life if we are not careful (cf. 1 Cor 3:15).
Getting back to how long God will allow a believer to backslide we cannot definitively say since only God knows the heart. Lot is a good example of why we should be careful in judging whether a person is saved or not. Here is the rub; why would a person who claims to love Jesus want to live a worldly life that causes genuine believers to be confused as to whether a person is saved or not? When spiritual people cannot tell the difference whether you are saved or unsaved by your attitude and behavior, there is a serious problem with the backslider, and he or she is in no position to pull a judge not card as if that gives them a pass on disobedience and for others to mind their own business.
Jesus only cautioned believers not to judge hypocritically in the context of Mt 7:1 and Lk 6:37, but He never prohibited righteous judgment (cf. Jn 7:24). Those verses are taken so out of context by the world and many believers that it’s a comic tragedy. The judge-not card is usually pulled by the self-righteous and those caught in some kind of sinful behavior which has been my observation. If you claim to be an apple tree, show the world your apples! Now Jesus said we can know them by their fruit (cf. Mt 7:16, 20; Gal 5:22-23).
James must have been accused of judging because he said, “Show me your faith without works, and I will show you my faith by my works (Jas 2:18b)! Worldliness and holiness are in opposition to each other; I would go so far as to say antagonistic. They cannot co-exist within the same human frame and be blessed by God; Lot had to have come to this realization in the final analysis of his life. In the end, worldliness will cost us and create all kinds of problems in our life; think of Lot, righteous but terribly miserable (cf. Gal 6:7).
I know I often say this to the point of sounding like a parrot, but disobedience is a love problem, a violation of the premier commandment of Scripture (Mt 12:30). When people quit caring or praying for us when we go into the dark seas of backsliding, we are in deep, deep trouble and way over our head! Worst-case scenario worldliness results in death or winding up a righteous failure. It’s best for us to avoid creating a covering of worldliness that creates an inability for us to see the ways of God clearly in our lives.
Who wants to die before our time or be known as a righteous failure? If you still don’t believe that could ever happen, you need to review Lot’s life again and again until it sinks in (cf. Rom 15:4; 1 Cor 10:11). So how long will God allow a true believer to backslide? If Lot was alive, he would say forget about how long, “It isn’t worth it for any length of time.” Do you think he would have loved to have his life back in order to do it right or to at least finish out his life differently? Or do you think he just drank himself to death? The Bible doesn’t say anything more about Lot when we left him back in the cave in the mountains with his two daughters.
We cannot “bear fruits worthy of repentance” (Mt 3:8) if we are wrapped up in a world of worldliness, creating an inability to perceive clearly God and His works because of the covering or veil of our own creation. It is more insidious and dangerous than we can imagine. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit” (Gal 5:25), yes? God will address the backsliders in His own good time. <><
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