Hebrews 11:6, “Without faith, it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” When a person chooses a life of faith and God accepts his decision, a beautiful and different life begins. Ephesians 1: 8-10, “With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ.”
One is required to remain faithful and diligent to his calling. Jude 3, “Contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints.” Philippians 2: 12-16, “work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”
A consecrated life can be difficult at times, but the blessings are great. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, “Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory.”
A consecrated Christian can ‘leave the faith’. He can become careless, gradually allowing the cares and responsibilities of life to gain priority over his spiritual life. Matthew 6:24, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and Mammon (wealth).”
One could also succumb to anger, bitterness or jealousy and lose their focus on God’s goodness and great power to overcome sin. Satan, the great enemy of God, would then have an opportunity to deceive and nurture unrighteousness and worldliness. 1 Peter 5:8, “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”
Hebrews 6:4-6, “ For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.”
A persistent life course that begins with a little neglect of the wonderful privileges of a consecrated life and gradually deteriorates into a life of disregard for heavenly things. When a person reaches this sad state, he is subject to the second death from which there is no resurrection.
