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The Faithful Disappear

by Chris Simmons

It can be so very encouraging to see and hear of brethren who continue to be faithful to the Lord. John wrote in III John verses 2-4, “Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers. For I was very glad when brethren came and bore witness to your truth, that is, how you are walking in truth. I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.” On the other hand, it is so discouraging to hear of, and witness, the unfaithfulness of our brethren. This was true in the Old Testament as well as faithful men lamented the lack of faithfulness of others. For example, we read the words of David in Psalms 12:1, “Help, Lord, for the godly man ceases to be, for the faithful disappear from among the sons of men.” The prophet Micah expressed a similar attitude in Micah 7:1-2, “Woe is me! For I am like the fruit pickers and the grape gatherers. There is not a cluster of grapes to eat, or a first-ripe fig which I crave. The godly person has perished from the land, and there is no upright person among men.” The prophet Isaiah also wrote in Isaiah 57:1, The righteous man perishes, and no man takes it to heart; and devout men are taken away, while no one understands.” Today, we may find ourselves turning to God for help as we witness the “faithful disappear.” We may wonder if anyone – including ourselves – is truly taking it to heart. What are we to do when we also feel as David, Micah, and Isaiah felt?

First of all, we need to ensure we remain spiritually strong and faithful. We cannot help others if our own faith, knowledge, and love is weak. Peter reminds us in II Peter 3:17-18 that the only way to prevent being “carried away by … error” is to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” Paul wrote in Colossians 1:10-11 of the critical need to be “increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power.” I’m always impressed whenever I fly how the flight attendants who are giving the safety instructions always tell parents flying with young children that if there’s a loss of cabin pressure to put on their own oxygen masks first and then their children’s because they can’t help their children if they have been overcome by a lack of oxygen. Likewise, Satan tempts us to worry about everyone else’s spiritual condition without considering our own. Paul reminds us in Galatians 6:1 to not only diligently seek to “restore” our brother or sister in Christ who is walking according to the flesh but to be “looking to yourself, lest you too be tempted.”

Secondly, in the words of Isaiah, we need to take the faithfulness of others “to heart.” It has to concern us and trouble us greatly that there are others who are walking no longer with us. Solomon, in Ecclesiastes 7:2, spoke of the need to “take it to heart” that we are all temporary upon this earth and that we need to think soberly about the unfaithfulness of ourselves and others and the eternal consequences it brings. Jeremiah recorded the words of God in Jeremiah 12:11 where God reflected on the apostasy of His people and stated that “no man lays it to heart.” In Malachi chapter 2, Malachi admonished God’s priests, who had failed in their mission to provide “true instruction” and “turn many back from iniquity” (verse 6), that they simply weren’t “taking it to heart.” Will we consider our similar responsibilities as priests in the Lord’s church today and take the unfaithfulness of others to heart?

Third, just as Jesus told His disciples to “lift up your eyes” (John 4:35) and see the opportunities to spread the gospel, we too need to lift up our eyes and watch for those who may be exhibiting signs of drifting. Apostasy in the life of a Christian doesn’t happen in an instant, but it is described as a gradual drift in Hebrews 2:1. One of the reasons that so much attention is given to the subject of attendance at our worship services is that “forsaking of our own assembling together” (Hebrews 10:25) is an ominous sign that someone is beginning to drift. Another sign may be that a brother or sister in Christ is no longer consistent in terms of contributing to the needs of the congregation. Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:16 of how the whole body is held together and grows “by that which every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part.” We need to look up and recognize when an “individual part” stops working together with the body (as perhaps they formerly had) and see the opportunity to exhort and encourage them – even if it’s ourselves!

Fourth, like the shepherd looking for the lost sheep, we can’t give up on those who have for the moment disappeared.” In the parable of the lost sheep (Luke 15:3-7), we need to take note of the fact that the shepherd left the ninety-nine to look for the sheep that had strayed and did so “until he finds it.” Granted the context of Matthew 7:7 is primarily addressing our efforts to enter the kingdom of God, but the application is true in many other aspects of our spiritual life. That is, we need to keep asking, keep seeking, and keep knocking when it comes to the unfaithful.

Finally, we need to pray and not lose heart. Jesus spoke the parable in Luke 18:1-8 for the very purpose that we persist in our prayers to God. Don’t ever quit for the unfaithful brother or sister in Christ and don’t ever give up hope that, like the prodigal son, they will come to their senses and realize the urgent need to return to their heavenly Father. Perhaps we’ve all been guilty of giving up on the unfaithful simply because it’s been a long time. The father in the parable of the prodigal son represents our heavenly Father who never gives up hope that one day we will return.

Indeed it can be discouraging to see “the faithful disappear” but I must never give up trying, praying, watching, caring, and loving for the souls of my brethren and pray for God’s forgiveness if I have failed to do so in the past.

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