It seems as if the wicked are inviting the judgment of God. We know it is coming. We’re 24 hours from a near total eclipse for the entire country. Is God trying to tell us something? Look how divided our nation is. Our country is already down and not looking at the One who can raise them up. We must be careful not to get caught up in this falling down. Our friends and family may have backed away from God. Paul said in Second Thessalonians 2 that a falling away would take place before the Lord comes. We’re seeing it. There is no hope through politics. The only hope is Jesus Christ. Nations fall because people fall. This is not about a political or social fall. This is all caused by a spiritual fall.
How are we standing? David said when he came to God’s house his feet were in an even place. Are you falling? This is an ongoing thing. If you don’t know Jesus, you are already fallen. All of us are fallen, falling or standing. Gravity makes sure the pull is there and that a fall is quick and fast. That’s why they hurt. When Christians fall away it’s not usually a quick thing. We seldom see strong Christians up and quit serving the Lord. I have seen it and then can look back and see the “little foxes” that have been working. Spiritual falling is a slow motion fall that happens gradually. That’s why God is asking you and me today “are you falling?” When we look at each other we should see the best, but if we see someone overtaken in a fall we are to pick them up in fear realizing that it can happen to us. We all can fall. Some have hit the ground but didn’t just lay there. You have to get back up and go on. If we stand steady, it’s by the hand of God.
Jesus identified the people here in Revelation 2 as Nicolaitanes. In the original that means pretend Christians. A person can go to church all the time but never have been born again. They are pretending to be something they are not. Jesus is able to raise you up. He raised Peter up from the water with his hand. Peter and John, through the power of Jesus, took the lame man by the right hand and lifted him up. Jesus asked the man at the Pool of Bethesda if he would like to be made whole. The man told him he couldn’t get to the water first when the angel came and troubled it. Someone always beat him there. Jesus just told him to rise up and walk. The man responded to the power of the voice of Jesus and found strength to stand, walk and actually pick up the bed he laid on and carry it away with him. Jesus can raise anyone up!
Revelation 2:5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
The church at Ephesus had fallen. Consider what Jesus was saying to them. The books of Acts and Ephesians tell us about how hard it was for a church to get started here, but it did. Paul got it organized and the people were blessed. Ephesus was one of the last churches Paul visited before his imprisonment. He told them wolves would come in and try to knock them down. Thirty years later Jesus told them their works were good. They appeared to be strong. But verse 4 says nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. This was enough to knock them down.
Have you been knocked down by someone or something? I’ve been hurt and jerked my neck because I forgot about the limbs on a tree in my yard. If I don’t pay attention when mowing they’ll get me every time. The least thing knocks people down and they don’t want to get back up. If you’ve been knocked down, it does hurt BUT DON’T stay down. We’ve all slipped in some “unseemingly, non-slippable” place. You can get knocked down. The world tries to do it all the time. Don’t let it get to you. Don’t let is discourage you. Doubt and discouragement comes when you let go. Are you falling? Have you slipped? Are you sliding? It’s easier than you think to fall. These days in which we live make it harder and harder on us and easier and easier to fall. We must press on. It won’t be very long until it’s all over.
Take a look at the race track. When the race starts the track is clean. After the cars go round and round there are grease spills and vapors that pollute the track. By the end the track is very slippery. We don’t have to walk a slippery road. Jesus built a highway for us. Check which road you’re on if you feel a slip. The devil is planning a fall for you. Slippery ground is out there somewhere.
What do you do? Repent. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works. Get up! Say “Lord, forgive me. Put me where I need to be.” If you don’t let Jesus catch you, you’ll hit the ground hard. Pray today “Lord, catch me.” Ask him to take care of the limbs in the tree of your life. If you are standing, don’t forget to keep praying. We don’t know how things will be tomorrow or next week. While you’re standing ask the Lord to help you be strong in whatever the morrow brings.
The question is “are you fallen?” Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works. I want to stay on even ground. What about you?
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 