Falling Away

Hebrews 6:4-8: "It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned."



In this passage, we find evidence of a life that has tasted the heavenly gift and even shared in the Holy Spirit but has fallen away. The key observation is found at the end of this passage; namely, this person is metaphorically seen as unfruitful land. There is no evidential fruit consistent with a life truly changed by God through the Holy Spirit. This would be the person who wanted the benefits of salvation but was unwilling to submit to the Lord. This individual desired to further his own selfish pursuits over God as he maintained his own lordship in his life. Rain falls on both the cultivated land and the weed-laden land; however, it is the land's response to the rain that reveals its intent. If the land is cultivated, removing the weeds, thorns, and thistles, it then reaps an abundant harvest of good produce. If the land is not worked, a harvest will be produced; however, it is a harvest of unfruitful vegetation. We can find wonderful imagery in this story. The rain is the Holy Spirit that provides conviction about the truth of God's holiness and our sinfulness in relationship to God. God has provided salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ; still, we must respond to that initiatory work of God. If we yield to the Lordship of Christ in our lives, repent of our sins (disobedient acts against God), and receive His precious gift of salvation through Christ, we respond with the cultivation of our spiritual lives. This produces beautiful, beneficial fruit consistent with a transformed life. Others that despise the Lord and refuse to yield to His Sovereignty, who refuse the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ, and who will not repent of sins are like the uncultivated land. The rains come, but the obstinate one permits the weeds of rebellion to grow and take over his life. In the end, this is a cursed, worthless life that is subject to the wrath of God.