It fills me with sadness to think of all the people I've known that, at one time in their life, were serving the Lord zealously, but have since then gone astray. Some are in jail, some are divorced, others involved with drugs and alcohol, while others are too blind to even see how far away they've drifted. No, I'm not talking about those who visit church once or twice and then forsake the Lord. I've seen people that sat on a church pew nearly ever Sunday for more than eight years turn their backs on God.

When I think about all those I know that have left God, I realize that they were no less saved than I am. Why should I think that I am incapable of backsliding? I like the way the old song, Come Thou Fount, puts it:

Prone to wander, Lord I feel it

Prone to leave the God I love

Here's my heart Lord, take and seal it,

Seal if for Thy Courts above. 

 We must do as the apostle Paul admonished us and examine ourselves, seeing whether we are in the faith. Where are we at? Are we serving Christ as earnestly as we once were, or have we slacked off somewhat? Is the fire burning low, or is it burning brightly? These are questions we should ask ourself from time to time, lest we find ourself making the same detour that many others have throughout the years.

"Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. "

                                -II Corinthians 13:5