Do Not Turn Away

Notice in the Bible when people get saved, they turn to God and away from what they were doing before they were saved.  And they start doing something for the Lord.

Acts 26:20, “…that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance”.  1 Thes 1:9, “…how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God”.

In both verses, the people turned to God.  And in their repentance, they quit their idols or their works that were contrary to God.  And then they started doing works that matched their repentance and started serving the living God.

If your Christianity is going to amount to much for the Lord, you are going to have to actively live the life you’ve now been given and get away from that old life you were living before.

The danger after turning to the Lord is that you could turn away in time.  Do not turn away from the Lord.

Don’t go back to your former iniquities, Acts 3:26.  When Jesus saved you he started turning you away from your iniquities.  One of the worst things you can do is to go back to the iniquities from which he saved you.  If you do, you will stop growing and you will stagnate in your life.

Don’t go back to your former religion, Gal 4:9-10.  This is what happened to the Galatians.  It really messed up their Christian liberty and their understanding of Christ.  You can’t grow like this.

Don’t turn to vain jangling, 1 Tim 1:6-7.  Many Bible believing Christians are off track with the Lord today because they got sidetracked by vain jangling.  The internet is full of this junk.  The people caught up in this jangling aren’t growing, except in pride.

Don’t turn away from truth, 2 Tim 4:4.  Instead, you should turn to it, Ps 119:59.  The profound truths in the Bible are simple truths.  Even a child can know them, 2 Tim 3:15.  But the things that are interesting to Christians today are the fables.  And they are turning away from the truth.

Don’t turn away from reproof, Prov 1:23, 31-33.  Instead, you should turn to it.  The reproofs of instruction are the way of life, Prov 6:23.  Reproof is not always easy to receive, but it is exceedingly valuable to help you grow.  The Lord chastens you to  increase your righteousness and holiness, Heb 12:10-11.

Don’t turn away from preacher, 2 Tim 1:15.  Paul loved the churches to whom he ministered.  Yet, in Asia, the men turned away from him.  When you are backsliding, usually the last person you want to talk to is the preacher.  So, you quit going to church to hear the preaching and quit seeking counsel.  This will “kill” you, spiritually.

Conclusion: The Christian life needs to be lived actively.  You must turn to God, and pursue him, and love him. And when those old sins tempt you and that old religion tries to draw you back, do not turn away from God.  Take the reproofs, sit under good preaching, and don’t get caught up in vain jangling and fables.