Psalms 1:1-3 (NIV) says:

1 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, 2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. 3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.

This passage of scripture is interesting in that it doesn’t only tell about the blessings for those who walk upright before the Lord. It also demonstrates a progression of how one can be drawn away from the Lord. Take a close look at verse 1.

The blessing is pronounced upon those who avoid doing certain things. Inversely, those who habitually do such things, especially those who are born-again, will experience a progressive slide away from the things of God into a lifestyle of sin. The progression is as follows:

1. The person walks in step with the wicked.

2. The person stands in the way that sinners take.

3. The person sits in the seat of the mockers.

Breaking it down, we see that a believer first may choose to go along with some of the things the unbelievers say and do rather than stand his or her ground. This is walking in step with the wicked. Next, the person stops just going along and stands in the way that the sinners take. In other words, because of hanging around them and going along with what they do, the person takes on some of the beliefs and ideas that their unbelieving friends have. This indicates that who you are around influences how you think and what you believe. Finally, the third step is when the person has gotten so far from the things of God and has aligned himself with the things of the unbelieving world that he mocks the things of God. At this point he is sitting in the seat of the mockers. And he is no longer in fellowship with God.

Salvation has been provided to us by Jesus and He will not take it from us. However, we can turn from the Lord and choose to forfeit our salvation. And it is a subtle process- it can sneak up on us if we are not staying aware and alert. First, there is walking with the unbelievers, then you stop and stand with them, and finally you sit down and remain with them.

I am not saying that we cannot be around unbelievers. Of course we must interact with them in order to show them love and share our faith with them. What I am talking about is choosing to make them your regular friends, commrades, and confidantes. When our free time is spent primarily with unbelievers, we will be influenced by them. Dear Christian friend, beware of the subtle strategy of the enemy. It is when we think that we cannot be snared by the devil that we are the most vulnerable to his trap.

If you (or someone you know) were once saved and have gotten far away from God, you can get right back into relationship with Him. In the same way that you first got saved (believing in your heart and confessing with your mouth), you can rededicate your life to Him. Pray out loud right now and tell Him how sorry you are for getting so far from Him. Then ask Him to come into your heart and be your Savior once again. And just like that, He will take up residence in your heart again. He loves you and He is eagerly awaiting your return.