Numerous scriptures indicate that the child of God can fall from grace and be eternally separated from God: Jesus indicated such in the parable of the sower (Matthew 13:3-8, 18-23), and the parable of the talents, (Matthew 25:14-30). The apostle Paul warned the Christians of Galatia of the danger, (Galatians 5:1-4), and Peter warned brethren, when he said, “For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein and overcome, the last state is become worse with them than the first. For it were better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after knowing it, to turn back from the holy commandment delivered unto them. It has happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog turning to his own vomit again, and the sow that had washed to wallowing in the mire” (2 Peter 2:20-22). Such being the case, what conditions arise in the Christian’s life that leads to drifting and falling away?

            Materialism: The Lord said, “Take heed, and keep yourselves from all covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: and he reasoned within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have not where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, be merry. But God said unto him, Thou foolish one, this night is thy soul required of thee; and the things which thou hast prepared, whose shall they be? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God” (Luke 12:15-21). Materialism is a result of a worldly attitude. We can often get so wrapped up in day-to-day living that we are willing to sacrifice the eternal on the altar of the immediate. The lusts of the flesh want to be satisfied and we acquiesce. When that happens, the material things become more important, and we drift away from God.

            Evil Companionship: The apostle Paul was plain when he said that avoiding the fornicators, covetous and extortioners of this world would require going “out of the world” (1 Corinthians 5:9-10) to do so. Therefore, the godly must be aware of the environment they are in. Paul said, “Be not deceived: Evil companionships corrupt good morals” (1 Corinthians 15:33). Paul wrote this warning to Christians. Dealing with, and being in the world, is a necessary part of life, but becoming companions with them is a totally different matter. Paul warned, “Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers: for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? or what communion hath light with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14).

            Marital problems: The husband/wife relationship is the first physical institution established by God. Throughout the scriptures there is mention of problems that existed between men and women as they endeavored to serve God and fulfill their various duties. When Job was being tried, his wife counseled him, “Dost thou still hold fast thine integrity? Renounce God, and die.” To this, Job responded, “Thou speaketh as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?” (Job 2:9-10). God warned husbands that their conduct toward their wives will affect their condition in the sight of God. Peter said, “Ye husbands, in like manner, dwell with your wives according to knowledge, giving honor unto the woman, as unto the weaker vessel, as being also joint-heirs of the grace of Life; to the end that your prayers be not hindered” (1 Peter 3:7). When a husband and wife do not share a unity in religious matters, difficulties arise. Many a young man and woman have thought to change their spouse’s mind in regard to religious beliefs. In some cases it actually works, but not in most. Concerning the nations of Canaan, Jehovah told Israel, “Ye shall not go among them, neither shall they come among you; for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods” (1 Kings 11:2). The danger was so great, it is said, “Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him… nevertheless even him did foreign women cause to sin” (Nehemiah 13:26). This should be a solemn warning that marital problems can result in falling from grace.

            Numerous reasons can be attributed to the falling away of many. The responsibility of the godly is to be aware of the avenues Satan will utilize to draw them back to perdition (Hebrews 10:39), and resist it.