OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL. SUNDAY 19 APRIL 2015. THEME : BACK TO YOUR VOMIT ?

MEMORISE : And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the
plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. LUKE 9 : 62.

READ : 2 PETER 2 : 20 – 22.
20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the
knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled
therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of
righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy
commandment delivered unto them.
22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is
turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing
in the mire.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : : JOSHUA 23 – 24 AND MATTHEW 23 : 29 – 24 : 14.
Often, we find someone who starts off very well in the Christian race and then
cools off later. Sometimes, some people who used to be very hot for the Lord
may even leave the Lord completely. When such things happen, thoughtful
minds wonder, “Who will be the next to leave the Lord?” invariably, the answer
is “Not me!” We are all kept standing by the grace and strength of the Lord.
Another word for going back to your vomit is backsliding. It means to turn
away from the Lord ( 1Kings 11 : 9 ). It also means to grow cold and leave your
first love ( Revelations 2 : 4 ). When a person returns to his vomit, there will
be a loss of joy, happiness, peace of mind and power. Darkness and murmuring
will replace light and songs of praise. That will not be your portion in Jesus’
Name. When I was meditating on Elisha’s decisions to kill off his oxen, I
realised that he did this to demonstrate the burning of the bridge that could
lead him back to his vomit ( 1Kings 19 : 21 ). The one who is going to become
great must make up his or her mind never to look back. Whatever will not let
you follow Jesus through and through will be destroyed in Jesus’ Name. I am
never sympathetic to anything that could stop me from becoming what God
wants me to become. Whatever will not let you ascend to the greatness that
God has for you must give way. Any friendship with the world or association
with anyone that will impede your progress to the place of greatness must be
removed.

The past is gone, and the present must be faced with proper zeal and
commitment. Anyone driving a car cannot afford to concentrate on the rear
mirror if they want to avoid catastrophe and disaster. This is why Paul said
that he forgets those things that are behind ( Philippians 3 : 13 ). There are
many reasons why some people go back to their vomit. The major reasons why
Lot went back to his vomit was because he lusted after something that was not
God’s will for him. The love of money has made many people sell their future.
This was the case with Judas Iscariot ( John 12 : 4 – 6 ). You cannot serve God
and please the world at the same time. When you find someone who has always
been fervent in the things of God now giving excuses for being absent from
church programmes, it is only a matter of time; the person will soon return to
his or her vomit. If you find yourself in such a situation, God is saying to you
like the prodigal son, return and be forgiven. God does not want any sinner to
die in his sins; neither does He want His children to be at the mercy of the
devil. It doesn’t matter how far down you have gone; He is ready to make you
a better child of His.

ACTION POINT :
Examine yourself; if you have backslidden in any way, repent and return to
your first works.

AUTHOR : Pst. E . A ADEBOYE.