Sudden?

The earthquake happened suddenly. That tornado came out of nowhere. The cold snap occurred just like that.

At least, that’s how we often perceive it. But disastrous weather events are the culmination of many factors that develop over time. The hurricane that caused so much damage had been brewing for many days and was produced by the complexities of an intricate weather system. Near the end of his life, Moses reminded the Israelites of a huge spiritual failure when he said, “You had turned aside quickly from the way which the LORD had commanded you” (Deuteronomy 9:16).

It is interesting Moses said they had turned away “quickly.” The people paused their wilderness wanderings to wait at the bottom of a mountain while Moses spent time in the presence of God. In no time at all, they had plunged deep into sin and rebellion. In one respect, it happened quickly. In a few short weeks, God’s own people had gone from pledging their allegiance to God to worshiping a golden calf. Viewed from another perspective, however, this apostasy was a long time in the making. Israel had spent many years living in the midst of heathenism, and those sinful influences had affected the people. It is difficult to lie on a beach without some sand sticking to you. The seeds of rebellion were in them.

Their apostasy happened quickly in that they had recently committed to the service of God, but it happened slowly inasmuch as their sin was a harvest from seeds sown long before. If termites are eating the heart out of your Christian experience, a fall that has been a long time in the making can happen suddenly.

Our defense against a slowly produced sudden fall is surrender to Christ. If He has your heart, He will keep you in His way.

Entrust yourself daily to God so that you don’t experience a similar sudden fall.