Jeremiah 2:1-8:

"The word of the Lord came to me: Go and announce directly to Jerusalem that this is what the Lord says:  "I remember the loyalty of your youth, your love as a bride- how you followed Me in the wilderness, in a land not sown. Israel was holy to the Lord, the first fruits of His harvest. All who ate of it found themselves guilty; disaster came on them." This is what the Lord Says.

Hear the word of the Lord, house of Jacob and all families of the house of Israel, This is what the Lord says:

What fault did your fathers find in Me? that they went so far from Me, followed worthless idols, and became worthless themselves? They stopped asking, "Where is the Lord who brought us from the land of Egypt, who led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and ravines, through a land of drought and darkness, a land no one traveled through and where no one lived?"

I brought you into a fertile land to eat its fruit and bounty but after you entered, you defiled my land; you made My inheritance detestable. The priests quit asking "Where is the Lord?" The experts in the law no longer knew me, and the rulers rebelled against me. The prophets prophesied by Baal, and followed useless idols."

It has been quite some time since God's word has broken my heart. However, that's partially because it's been quite some time since I've read it faithfully and consistently. This post is as much for me as it is for those who come across this, and read it. In Jeremiah 2, we find Israel being accused of Apostasy. Apostasy is falling away, or as we call it here in Modern-Day American churches of the South, "Back-sliding". 

I've heard multitudes of sermons on backsliding, and heard more altar calls than I can count, regarding the falling away of believers. However, these annoy me more than words can describe. Not because of wrestling with conviction, but because our hearts behind these are often wrong. Often, it appears that when no one decides to come forward for a first time salvation commitment, we simply broaden our search for willing participants by including "back-sliding believers". This is done, opposed to having a heart for those who are struggling in the faith and need restoration and help working through their struggles as they make their way back home from a prodigal journey- no matter how big or small. They need restoration, not hugs after a prayer of semi-repentance (but mainly an emotionally driven and guilt filled apology). 

In Jeremiah 2, we find a heartbroken God. He is remembering a time when Israel really loved and adored Him. The phrase loyalty of your youth comes from the Hebrew word "chesed" for loyalty. It speaks of the "loving-kindness, or unfailing devotion" that Israel once showed to her bridegroom, The Lord. 

God speaks of a time in His relationship with Israel where she followed Him wherever He would go. She did not hesitate to spend time in the wilderness with Him, alone and content. She did not run from God, and the places that Yahweh would take her. 

There is typically a time like this in the life of each believer. That type of zeal that burns in a person fresh from conversion, realizing the goodness of God for the first time, DRIVES their trust in God. They are full of trust, and can be bewildered by the smallest of things when it comes to the Father. Somewhat like when a little girl is amazed by blowing bubbles. Everything has beauty. 

So why do we lose it? The miracles of God and His interactions with mankind do not become any less miraculous. We simply become desensitized to God's Spirit and His ways of working. We slowly drift into lives of occupied minds and hearts enthroned by business. We relinquish the desire to partake in spiritual discipline, and trade in times of eating spiritual food for gaining earthly success found in working out of our own strength. God clearly asks Jeremiah in verse five , "What fault did your fathers find in Me that they went so far from Me, followed worthless idols, and became worthless themselves?"

What is it in us that screams out God is unworthy of my devotion and what pushes me to allow the useless and harmful idols of men and this world to define me rather than my creator? WHY DO WE WALK AWAY? Sin. Sickness in the heart that poisons the entire body, the heart, and the soul. Sin that we allow to take root rather than bringing light to it, confessing it, holding ourselves accountable to both God and man, and moving past it. The tragedy of falling away from the faith is not in falling away or participating in sin. The tragedy is leaving a perfect God, who is completely good, and trading it for perfect emptiness that is wholly bad. 

We leave Him wondering why we can't see his worth. When we walk away, we are saying to a perfect God that He is not good enough for our worship. When we view God through a filter of ourselves and see Him as who we think He is, we are not able to see the true character of God. We miss a God who is worthy of everything we have to give, and so much more. We miss the fact that this Creator of the Universe is perfect in all His ways. His definition of good for us is greater than our perception of good for ourselves. The only way for us to prevent ourselves from walking away from God is to see Him in His true light. To see Him through scripture, in truth, for who He truly is.

When we understand the greatness of God, all that He is, we will have no choice but to follow Him. We will see a Savior who is worth devoting our lives to. The crime is in apostasy is not giving up when "the going gets tough" or not being able to cling to God through trials and tribulation. The sin is found in not understanding who God is, and trading the Creator for creations of our own hands.


I understand it is difficult to continue to walk in relationship with the Lord. The entire world seeks to distract you from faith and fill you with doubt. It wants every part of you, and will leave you empty. Take it from someone who recently took a journey away from the father, and found herself back in the footsteps of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32).  Apostasy seems to be the habit of the children of God, but I challenge you-- The next time you notice yourself falling or walking away from God intentionally. Ask yourself what is it that seems so great? What fulfillment will you find in the guilt of giving in to temptation? What wholeness will you find at the empty bottle of whiskey? Will you actually feel more loved after you watch pornography? What reward will you have in breaking the heart of someone who has wronged you? Will these temptations actually bring something more to your life that you've been searching for? Will filling yourself with empty things fill the emptiness you experience daily?

The answer is no. Don't fall away, don't slide backwards, Press on. Be accountable. Live a life worthy of the calling of Jesus Christ. Do not trade a perfect God for a life of heartache. If you're thinking that there is something wrong with God, examine your heart. The problem is typically going to be your perspective. Accept that He is a God who does not make mistakes.