Why I Left

Robert Meredith

A few years ago the East Wood congregation in Paris, Tennessee, held a lectureship with the theme, “Why I Left.”  It was an outstanding series in which Gospel preachers spoke concerning why they had left certain denominational bodies and had been obedient to the gospel.  It is always encouraging to hear of someone who diligently seeks the truth, finds it, and turns from error.

  We can take this phrase, “Why I Left,” and look at it from a different viewpoint:  why some have left the Lord’s church and have returned to the world.  Peter speaks of some who would in 2 Peter 2:20-22.  “For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein; and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.  For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.”  It is indeed sad that some will leave faithfulness to the Lord’s body.

Let us think about a few men who have left and imagine what they would do if they were to have a second chance.  What about Demas?  He is mentioned by Paul as a co-laborer in Colossians 4:14 and Philemon 24.  Yet, we are all far more familiar with 2 Timothy 4:10, which reads, “For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world.”  What do you imagine Demas would do differently if he were given a second chance?  I do not believe he would forsake Paul and God because he feared death.  I believe he would now be faithful unto death (Revelation 2:10).  What about Hymenaeus and Alexander?  In 1 Timothy 1:19-20, Paul relates how they had made shipwreck of their faith.  As one studies God’s word, he can know where such people will spend eternity.

  It is my fervent prayer that my family and all with whom I have labored would remain faithful.  It will be tremendously tragic on judgment day for someone to ask, “Why did so and so leave the church?”

  How can we ensure that we do not fall from grace?  Hear the apostle Peter, “According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue...And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, temperance; and to temperance, patience; and to patience, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, charity.  For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.  Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these tings, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:3, 5-11).