The Dark Side

Hebrews 6:4-6

It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, 6if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, becauseto their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.

The Dark Side

Perhaps the Lord has placed this scripture on my heart to encourage rather than discourage some of you.  In the course of our Christian journey there may be or have been times along the way, where we have gone astray.  Someone may be in that place today.  We have, more or less, left the faith and gone back into the world.  This even happens at times to men who were once quite spiritual, on fire for God and full of the Holy Spirit.  Perhaps they were hurt, became discouraged or fell into sin. 

There are those who read this passage or others like it and think that they have blasphemed the Holy Spirit or crucified the Son of God afresh and that even if they wanted to return to the Lord they no longer have any hope of salvation or forgiveness.  If there is still a conviction in your heart, and the desire and willingness to repent and turn your heart back to the Father I believe He can and will forgive you and restore you.  The people that this speaks of are those who have gone over to the dark side.  They have given themselves over to a reprobate mind, being unfit and not standing the test.  Now we have all missed the mark and failed on numerous occasions, but here it speaks of a person that even if they speak on a spiritual plane their heart is not for the Lord. 

Titus 1:10-14 says, “For there are many rebellious people, mere talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision group. 11They must be silenced, because they are ruining whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach—and that for the sake of dishonest gain. 12Even one of their own prophets has said, “Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons.” 13This testimony is true. Therefore, rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith 14and will pay no attention to Jewish myths or to the commands of those who reject the truth.”  Romans 1:18-32 describes the mindset of such a people. “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 24Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

25Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 26For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. 28And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” These people of spoken of here have turned against the truth.  They may even be those who put on a spiritual pretense in order to deceive and lead astray the elect of God.  They have in their hearts now become the enemies of the cross, subjecting the Lord Jesus to public disgrace.  They no longer give place to a conscience or have a heart to repent.  As long as there is a heart of repentance in you and you will humble yourself and seek God’s forgiveness God will not rejected you.  It is you who have chosen to reject Him.  Eventually the Holy Spirit will withdraw and there will no longer be even the desire for repentance or relationship with the Lord.   The enemy has used these scriptures to condemn many who do still have a heart to return to the Lord even though they feel condemned, unworthy and have used these scriptures to believe that there is no more hope of salvation for themselves, the Father is calling you back to Himself. 

               In Luke 15:11-32 Jesus gives the parable of the wayward son who took his inheritance from the Father, squandered it foolishly and then later found himself starving and eating corn husk with the pigs.  When he did decide to return to the Father, no longer as a son but as a servant, we see the Father rushing out to meet him and welcoming him back home as a son.  He celebrates his return, for once he was lost, but now is he found.  The Father wants any of us who have strayed from him, fallen back into sin or have turned our backs toward Him to know that He still loves you.  His love is unconditional toward you.  He doesn’t love our sin and our rebellion grieves His heart, but His love never fails.  If you will return to Him today with all of your heart, He will receive you again unto Himself.  He will forgive you of your sins, wash you in the blood and in effect, kill the fatted calf as He rejoices that you have come back home. 

               As long as there is a repentant heart, there is a Father who will take you back and restore you.  It is when the heart becomes hardened and closed, when it yields no fruit unto righteousness or repentance that the person has become reprobate and unfit for the kingdom. They are no longer willing to return to the Lord that loved them and gave His life for them.  That can be man or woman.  They can not be brought back to repentance, because there is no repentance in them.

               If you are away from the Lord today, and if you have felt condemned and without hope, know that with the Lord there is hope if you will but turn and give your heart back to Him.  He has the power, the love and the forgiveness to restore you.

Blessings,

#kent