New Christians, and Backsliden Christians,
Is there a difference between when we become New Christians, and when we come back to Christ after backsliding? Being a backsliden christian myself, I think there's quite a bit of difference. The difference in being the experience of joy vs. sorrow.
When we first hear about God, and how he sent Jesus to die for our sins, and we accept him as our saviour It's a joyous occassion. Our sins are forgiven and we are making a clean start. It feels great! We had no idea before about how sinful we had been, sure we knew we did some things that weren't right, but now we know we are forgiven, and there is no greater feeling than the love and forgivness we are blessed with.
So we set about learning Gods word, what he wants from us etc... Now somewhere along the way we decide to explore paths in our life that God did not intend for us to take. Sometimes we follow blindly, we don't even notice at first that we are on the wrong path. At some point we even begin to do things we know God wouldn't approve of, we know we are sinning against him. we eventually become overwhelmed by the way we are living our life, the path we are on is leading us nowhere. We want God back in it, It was so much better before when we followed his ways instead of our own, we want our salvation back. We want what we had before.
But this time for some reason, It's not the same when we call out to God for forgivness. Where's that overwhelming feeling of joy, and happiness? Why do I feel so much pain and sorrow this time? Didn't God hear my prayer? Maybe he doesn't want to forgive me, I wouldn't blame him if he didn't, just look at everything I've done! This is a point where we stop and examine our souls we take a deep and hard look at how we were living our life, and we see how wrong we were, we knew we were sinning this time, and we know, that God knows this. So why all these feelings of sadness? Is God turning his back on us now?
No God is not turning his back on us, He is simply calling us back to him. The difference this time is that we must take the time to examine our life. God is opening our eyes to all the wrong we did. How can we not be overwhemled with guilt for our transgressions this time around. We are ashamed by what we have done, and although it might not feel like it, God is truely working on our souls at this point. It is his spirit that convicts us, If we weren't sorry for what we did, then he would have no reason to forgive us. But when we feel sorry for what we did, it is accompanied with sadness because we feel bad about it. This is exactly what God wants. If he didn't take the time to make us examine our life and feel bad about what we did then we have learned nothing, If we didn't experience the sadness and sorrow after slipping away, then what would stop us from taking the wrong path once again. Once we get through this time of sorrow, and have learned what God is showing us, by examining our souls. we are restored that joy and happiness we felt once before.
So God does forgive us, and restores his spirit within us once again, but not without first convicting us, and making us see the error of our own ways. Once we finish going through this time of conviction, We are all the more thankful that God has showed us where we went wrong. We pray and try all the harder to never stray again, we even lose the desire to return to that path which led us astray the first time around.
So if you are trying to find your way back to God, but you feel like he isn't there listening, because all you feel is guilt, pain, and sorrow. Be assured that he is there, He is working on you like never before, It's all part of what you must go through, and once you let God see you through it, you will be thankful that he has opened your eyes, and allowed you to see the error of your own ways, for your salvation would be meaningless if he hadn't.
Is there a difference between when we become New Christians, and when we come back to Christ after backsliding? Being a backsliden christian myself, I think there's quite a bit of difference. The difference in being the experience of joy vs. sorrow.
When we first hear about God, and how he sent Jesus to die for our sins, and we accept him as our saviour It's a joyous occassion. Our sins are forgiven and we are making a clean start. It feels great! We had no idea before about how sinful we had been, sure we knew we did some things that weren't right, but now we know we are forgiven, and there is no greater feeling than the love and forgivness we are blessed with.
So we set about learning Gods word, what he wants from us etc... Now somewhere along the way we decide to explore paths in our life that God did not intend for us to take. Sometimes we follow blindly, we don't even notice at first that we are on the wrong path. At some point we even begin to do things we know God wouldn't approve of, we know we are sinning against him. we eventually become overwhelmed by the way we are living our life, the path we are on is leading us nowhere. We want God back in it, It was so much better before when we followed his ways instead of our own, we want our salvation back. We want what we had before.
But this time for some reason, It's not the same when we call out to God for forgivness. Where's that overwhelming feeling of joy, and happiness? Why do I feel so much pain and sorrow this time? Didn't God hear my prayer? Maybe he doesn't want to forgive me, I wouldn't blame him if he didn't, just look at everything I've done! This is a point where we stop and examine our souls we take a deep and hard look at how we were living our life, and we see how wrong we were, we knew we were sinning this time, and we know, that God knows this. So why all these feelings of sadness? Is God turning his back on us now?
No God is not turning his back on us, He is simply calling us back to him. The difference this time is that we must take the time to examine our life. God is opening our eyes to all the wrong we did. How can we not be overwhemled with guilt for our transgressions this time around. We are ashamed by what we have done, and although it might not feel like it, God is truely working on our souls at this point. It is his spirit that convicts us, If we weren't sorry for what we did, then he would have no reason to forgive us. But when we feel sorry for what we did, it is accompanied with sadness because we feel bad about it. This is exactly what God wants. If he didn't take the time to make us examine our life and feel bad about what we did then we have learned nothing, If we didn't experience the sadness and sorrow after slipping away, then what would stop us from taking the wrong path once again. Once we get through this time of sorrow, and have learned what God is showing us, by examining our souls. we are restored that joy and happiness we felt once before.
So God does forgive us, and restores his spirit within us once again, but not without first convicting us, and making us see the error of our own ways. Once we finish going through this time of conviction, We are all the more thankful that God has showed us where we went wrong. We pray and try all the harder to never stray again, we even lose the desire to return to that path which led us astray the first time around.
So if you are trying to find your way back to God, but you feel like he isn't there listening, because all you feel is guilt, pain, and sorrow. Be assured that he is there, He is working on you like never before, It's all part of what you must go through, and once you let God see you through it, you will be thankful that he has opened your eyes, and allowed you to see the error of your own ways, for your salvation would be meaningless if he hadn't.
