SOME ARE INFLUENCED BY THE WORLD.
The devil is always working to deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting to lead them astray. He uses every means at his disposal to accomplish his evil work. Actually, he works harder to lure those who are in Christ than he does those who are not. The latter are already under his dominion. Temptation is ever before us. Illicit sexual relationships are vividly portrayed on the screen with the implication that such are normal expressions of sexuality, and those who limit sexual relations to marriage are narrow minded, religious fanatics. Those who refrain from social drinking are definitely in a minority class and are often shunned by those who so engage. The social pressure to participate, follow the crowd and indulge is great, and it takes its toll on many who have made their stand with Christ. Some are unable to keep up their resistance and self denial of sinful pleasures. The Christian’s challenge is “Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.” (I John 2:15,16) Those unwilling to accept this challenge finally drift away from Christ.
SOME BECOME DISCOURAGED.
“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart”. (Gal. 6:9)
Some indeed do lose heart and grow weary in serving Christ. The Christian life is a fight (I Tim. 6:12), a warfare (II Cor. 10:4), and a race (Heb. 12:1). These terms imply endurance, effort, determination and persistence, which some find difficult. One may become discouraged with the church when other members are not as faithful as they should be, or from discouraging comments made by others, or because the church is not growing when no real effort has been made to grow. One becomes tired of the fight to resist daily temptations. Sermons that are planned to encourage, edify, stimulate and exhort often fall on deaf ears, or are short lived. Discouragement can damn our souls if we do not resist it. Many already have crumbled.
SOME ARE LED AWAY WITH DOCTRINAL ERROR.
Some are more concerned with what the majority believe than what the truth is. Others are tired of hearing the same truths over and over again. Some think they must come up with something new, or to solve some difficult problems in the church, new interpretations of Scripture are introduced. Then, very often, weaker and unsuspecting brethren are carried away with the error espoused. (Eph. 4:14) People become unfaithful for other reasons, but these certainly affect many. The danger is always there, yet it does not have to happen. For many it doesn’t. The Christian life requires faithful commitment to Jesus and trust that He will work out whatever problems we encounter, “….for if you do these things you will never stumble”. (II Pet. 1:10)
-Richard