“Come, follow Me,” Jesus said. (Matthew 4:18–19, NIV 1984).
My Musings – Not merely when it is convenient or when it please us to do so. “If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me will find it.” (Matthew 16:24–25, NIV 1984). The willingness to lose our life for Him, now that’s commitment.
It is inconceivable that those having made such a commitment would “[turn] back to those weak and miserable principles” that previously defined their lives, “to be enslaved by them all over again.” (Galatians 4:9, NIV 1984). But rather would continue to “hold to [His] teaching, [showing that they] are really [His] disciples.” (John 8:31, NIV 1984).
So, what of those who do “[turn] back,” never to come back? “They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.” (1 John 2:18–19). They never made a genuine commitment to follow Him.
Of course, some stray or “[turn] back” for a season realizing that they were not suited for “the basic principles of the world,” (Galatians 4:3, NIV 1984), those “weak and miserable principles.” That their desire is to “continue in Him, so that when He appears [they] may be confident and unashamed before Him at His coming.” (1 John 2:28, NIV 1984).
My Advice – A true saving faith cannot be deconstructed, that is turned back from altogether. Turning back altogether merely means that saving faith was never really “constructed” to begin with. Those claiming deconstruction are merely “[showing] that none of them belonged” in the first place. If they did belong, “they would have remained” or returned.
We should examine our great confession. “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” (Romans 8:16, NIV 1984). The Spirit that turns the wayward children back to the Father. Ask yourself where you belong.
The Brew Is A Musing 