Situations in the world today can make any child of God backslide if he or she is not well-grounded in His word. Knowing this, Jesus Christ told the disciples in John 16:33, “These things I have spoken unto you, that In me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world”.

Just after the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, Peter decided to return to his former trade of fishing along with some other disciples (John 21:3). Many things could have been responsible for their decision to abandon their calling in Christ as evangelists to go back to fishing. Peter and the other disciples that followed him must have felt the future was bleak since their expectation of Jesus as the political Messiah was dashed at His crucifixion. They may also have been disappointed over the fact that, upon His resurrection, Jesus Christ did not restore the sovereignty of Israel as a nation, as expected. This made them ask, “..Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6).

Beloved, what may cause you to contemplate going back into the world? Is it joblessness, a troublesome spouse, a failed business, yet-to-be-fulfilled dreams, betrayal from friends or loved ones?. Take a cue from Paul – an apostle of Christ, when he asked rhetorically:
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or unclothedness, or peril, or sword?…Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Romans 8:35, 37.

Jesus Christ in our memory verse today warns us against going back when He says that, having decided to work for the Lord, anyone who goes back to the world is not fit for the kingdom (Luke 9:62). Therefore beloved, going back because of what you are passing through is not an option because the Bible says that we should hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering (Hebrews 10:23). The good news is that glory is waiting ahead of you if only you can hold on to Christ and never go back to the world (Colossians 1:27, Psalm 30:5).
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.