Fallen Carcases -- Posted 12-08-2008

The Apostle Paul penned these words in Hebrews 3:8-19.

"Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:
When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. Wherefore I was
grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not
known my ways. So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.) Take heed,
brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the
deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our
confidence stedfast unto the end; While it is said, Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not
your hearts, as in the provocation. For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not
all that came out of Egypt by Moses. But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not
with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? And to whom sware he that
they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? So we see that they could
not enter in because of unbelief."

The saddest of all life stories is the story of the backslider.

A highly debatable topic at best...none the less, one that is dealt with in the Holy Word of God.

In the text it is found that it was God's will that all the children of Israel be delivered from the
stranglehold of Egyptian rule and ushered into the Promised Land of Canaan. God intended
for His people to receive the promise of a land that flowed with milk and honey. A land where
fruit and vegetables were in abundance. A grand life my friend.

Yet you find a profound and extremely harsh statement from the mouth of God Almighty.

"They shall not enter into my rest."

Why? How? .........What?

Was God confused? Irrational? Unfair?

No! An emphatic NO!!!

God was doing only what He is able to do...He was being JUST.

Some will ask, "Why does God seem so harsh at times?"

Simply put, God's requirement for disobedience is judgment.

My faithful reader, do you not see plainly this is where America and the church-world are
today?

That one word describes multitudes of "Christians" I know...disobedient.

How sad my heart becomes when I realize the "great-falling-away" is upon us right now.

When I was younger and still involved in my church's youth group, there were approximately
15 other young people of a similar age that were serving God. They were "saved".

BELIEVERS.

One by one I watched as those young people, my friends, walked away from the saving grace
of God.

Of 15 young people, only 3 (including myself) are still walking with the Lord today.

Two of those young people were baptized with the Holy Ghost at a very young age. (5-6
years old)

Two of the young men professed a call into the ministry.

One young lady professed a call into overseas mission work.

One young lady and one young man each received a "Christian Character Award" at Bible
Youth Camp.

Several were given the gifts of music by the Lord.

My friend, these were "good" kids!!

One young man was a preacher's son.

Two young ladies were a Sunday School teacher's daughter.

Yet only 3 remain in the service of the King.

Why? How?

God said it best, "UNBELIEF!"

Just like the children of Israel, these young people felt the pressure of the enemy and it
overwhelmed them.

Please understand that I am NOT bragging on myself because I am still saved and they are
not. Only the grace of a loving God has kept me.

Nonetheless, when the trials came and the battle began to get hot, these poor souls retreated
instead of trusting a God who has NEVER LOST A BATTLE.  

Now, as I look around at what was once a spiritual battleground, all I see are carcases.

FALLEN CARCASES!!!

As I prayed with my family this evening the horrible realization of these lost individuals struck
my heart as never before.

I sadly report that the last time I saw two particular individuals, they were exiting a liquor store
with a "purchase".

No, I am not judging them. I don't need to. They've made their decisions. And so have I.

My heart is grieved this night for the backslider. And, more important than that, God's heart
grieves.

I have 4 uncles and 5 aunts who are backslidden as I type these words.

FALLEN CARCASES!!

Those that fell dead in the wilderness in Moses' day should have made it into the Promised
Land. They had every provision necessary to sustain them. They had already crossed the
Red Sea on dry ground. They had already seen Pharaoh's army drowned in that same sea.
They had seen water come from a rock. They had bread from heaven every day in the form of
manna. Yet, they did not believe.

I am often astounded at the number of those that have fallen-away. But, when I ponder the
reason, it always ends at this point, unbelief.

Maybe that soul didn't believe God could sustain them. Maybe the individual didn't believe sin
was as dangerous as it was.

Whatever the "reason" was, now they are lost. Outside God's Will. Backslidden.

They are another "Fallen Carcase".

Is that you my friend? Did you once know the love and mercy of God?

That feeling of Holy Ghost conviction in your soul right now proves that God is not through
with you.

Just believe!! Yes, believe!!

Don't be just another fallen carcase...

II Corinthians 6:2 says,"...behold, NOW is the accepted time; behold, NOW is the day of
salvation.)”  (emphasis mine)