There is a song that we sing in my local church that I absolutely loved called “I Won’t Go Back.” I truly love the meaning of the song, its lyrics, and even the amazing voices of those who sing it in our local assembly. That being said I know there exists a line in that song that while I want nothing more than for it to be true it simply isn’t. The song says “I won’t go back, can’t go back, to the way it used to be. Before Your presence came and changed me.” What a powerful statement that is but sadly the Bible tells us that isn’t the case. In reality, any of us can go back to the sinful places God saved us from.
That’s not something we want to believe. Every Christian wants to believe that they have risen so far above their past that there is no way they can return to it. That we simply can’t fall because we are currently standing so strong. But then we read the startling statement of Paul. Which warns those who think they stand to take heed lest they fall. The mindset that we so often have that says we can’t go back is the very one that can ultimately cause us to fall back into our old life.
1 Corinthians 10:12 (ESV)
12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.
The Bible continues to show us that anyone can go back by warning every believer not to. Stating that we should not use our newly found freedom for wickedness. Warning us not to slip back into our old ways of living. Telling that we may need to rescue others if we see them falling back into their old sinful ways. But to be careful because we too could be tempted by the same sin.
Galatians 5:13 (ESV)
13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
1 Peter 1:14 (ESV)
14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance,
Galatians 6:1 (ESV)
1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.
Believe it or not but we are not promised a life without temptation. In fact, we can see throughout the Bible that temptation remains a part of every believer’s life. The enemy may give up for a season but as long as we are here on earth he will try to lead us astray again. No matter what we may want to believe he is good at what he does and is able to lure people back into their old ways without them even realizing it. Scripture even describes the devil as cunning and crafty.
Matthew 6:13 (ESV)
13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
James 1:13–14 (ESV)
13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.
Matthew 26:41 (ESV)
41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Luke 4:13 (ESV)
13 And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.
2 Corinthians 11:3 (ESV)
3 But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.
These are honestly worrisome truths. It is unnerving to think that at any moment you could go back to the life Jesus rescued you from. Back to the ways that brought you so much pain and shame. But until we make it to Heaven that is a possibility for any of us. As the Bible declares, temptation is common to all people. We are no better than all those we have seen fall while we have been Christians. The truth is we are just as capable of going back as anyone who has fallen before us.
1 Corinthians 10:13 (ESV)
13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
However, don’t allow this truth to break your spirit. Don’t feel as though your fall is inevitable and just around the corner. That is as dangerous as taking pride in how firm you are standing. It will only make you more susceptible to falling. Instead, use the knowledge that you can go back to keep you from doing so.
Look at everything through the lens of “could this cause me to return to my old life”. Stay constant in prayer knowing that you only are able to overcome the power of temptation through the strength God provides. We can go back but praise God that we don’t have to if we will always run to Him whenever we start back in the wrong direction.
Doing these things and using this knowledge properly can help keep you from going back. It won’t make it so you can’t go back but it can keep you where you need to be. Making you into the prey that is faster and more cunning than the lion stalking it. As this keeps you close to the Lord it will also in turn cause the devil to flee from you. But know that if you begin to take pride in your own ability to stand tall he will quickly return to you. Trying all the more to draw you back to your old life.
1 Peter 5:8 (ESV)
8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
James 4:7 (ESV)
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
“I Won’t Go Back” is a great song that has an even greater meaning. But it doesn’t change the fact that many of us are capable of going back. If we only start to become prideful and lose sight of the one who brought us to where we are now. I know that I am just as flawed and given to temptation like anyone else. Which is the very reason that I can go back. But knowing this only helps me in my goal to stay on the right path and never go back. Lord may I never forget that I could easily return to my past life of wickedness and may that knowledge always drive me closer to you.
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