A Backslider Lives Like the Foolish and the Wicked – (Proverbs 14:14-15)
Daily Proverbs
Daily Bible Study
In this section of scripture, God considers the backslider as belonging to the same group of people as the fool and the wicked. This is because, like the fool and the wicked, the backslider is choosing to ignore God. In a sense, though claiming kinship with God, though claiming to be a child of God the backslider has abandoned walking with God. The backslider has instead chosen to live like the rest of the world, thereby quenching any influence of the Holy Spirit in their life. Moreover, because of their rebellion, they also quench any blessings of God on their life. While such a person may make it into heaven, they will lose much and possibly everything along the way. The Apostle Paul tells us they will enter Heaven without rewards.
They will enter Heaven as one barely escaping the fire with nothing, not even the clothes on their back. Backsliders refuse to give God control and insist on the precarious position of rebellion. As a child of God, who is in rebellion toward God, they have now opened themselves up to God's discipline. And if necessary God will turn them over to their lust and desires to lose everything if that's what it takes to return the backslider back toward God. We have to remember when God looks at us, He does so with eternity in mind. God is looking toward our eternal good as it relates to our salvation and our relationship with Him. When God's children backslide and turn away from Him, it's for their eternal good that God chastises them. God will do so in order that they recognize the danger they have placed themselves in and turn back toward God.