Barriers

"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."
Hebrews 6:4-6

It is a difficult subject to talk about. There has been conflict among the churches about the question of eternal security. If a person comes to know Jesus, is he secure in his heavenly reward no matter what he does? There are those who say yes, and those who say no. This scripture speaks to the state of a person who has tasted all that God has given them and then turns back. His denial of Christ is like sentencing Jesus to the cross again, just as the religious people of his day did. But I think there is a simple answer, a safeguard from the danger of falling away.
    I often think of the children of Israel who were delivered from the hands of the Egyptians. Moses was called by God to lead them out of their captivity and into the promised land that God had prepared for them. First, they had to be delivered from the hands of the persecutors. We all know that this took several plagues or God-sent disasters that ultimately forced Pharaoh to release them. After their release, they were led to the Red Sea where Moses stood with his staff extended, parting the waters so they could cross on dry land. But Pharaoh and his army pursued them. God literally put to death the ones who had held his people captive by drowning them in the sea. Next, the people had to cross the desert. Because of their disobedience, they wandered there for forty years, eventually coming to the banks of the Jordan River. Though Moses had died, Joshua led the people to the river where God miraculously backed up the water so they could cross into the promised land walking on dry land. 
    It seems that God put barriers between his people and the old life of slavery. Although they sometimes longed to go back, it was virtually impossible because of all the barriers God had placed between them and that old place of bondage. They would have had to cross the Jordan again, traverse the desert, cross the Red Sea and submit again to the slavery they had left, and all this without the great miracles God had wrought to bring them out. I think God is faithful to lead us through our lives and place barriers that keep us from forsaking him and returning to the old life. The Red Sea is like our water baptism. In the waters of baptism, God puts the old nature to death. Through the deserts of our lives, God instructs us in the way of holiness and establishes us firmly in his kingdom. And across the Jordan, as we enter the fullness of the Holy Spirit, we enter the spiritual land that God has prepared for us. All these barriers surely make it difficult for us to return to the old ways.
    So my conclusion is this: One who has given his life to Christ, who has been baptized in water, who has been taught through the deserts of life, and has entered into the fullness of the Holy Spirit, if he should choose to go back, has many barriers to cross to get there. It would be an even more difficult journey than the one taken to the kingdom of God. Although I think it can be done, God's grace has followed us through the journey of this new life, and it will provide many barriers to keep us from going back. No matter where you are in your journey, always rely on the grace of Jesus to keep you. Even if you are in a time of rebellion against God, you must know deep in your spirit that God and his grace are with you, keeping you for eternity. Don't go back! Don't long for the old life! Remember there is slavery there, and you have been gloriously set free. God's barriers will keep you in his kingdom and days of refreshing repentance will come. God is not willing that even one person should perish. You are that one.