John 6:66 

I have been serving the Lord for “donkey” years now. In modern terms that means for a long time way more than fifty years and I wonder if after all these years I can still lose my mind and make a conscious decision not to serve Him. I mean how tragic this would be. Yet the truth is, whether I want to admit it or not, this can happen. Scriptures strongly more than imply this can happen. May God help us in times of the “Eschaton” (these last day times) to remain more than committed not to fall away or turn away from the truth, as the evil days become more and more evil and perniciously degenerate. I promise the Lord, I’ll make it somehow. 

Let it never be forgotten that the Scriptures forewarn us “Wherefore, let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12). Here we are diligently warned about being overconfident concerning our spiritual and moral strength. Sin and the deviousness of the Evil One are not to be underestimated or ignored. Under deep inspiration the apostle Paul was also inspired to caution us in the last verse of the preceding chapter “But I keep under my body and bring it into subjection; lest by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway” (1 Corinthians 9:27). We pay careful attention to the great Apostle’s ominous words here “lest by any means.” We just can’t afford in any way to let this happen – to even preach it and then be so delinquently irresponsible that we become thrown away or rejected. The sober words of apostle Peter continue to ring loud and clear in our spiritual ears “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure . . .” (2 Peter 1:10). 

In our passage of reflection today, it is so recorded that many of his disciples went back and walked no more with him (John 6:66). They had followed Him for the miracles of healing He had performed on those who were diseased (John 6:2), but more than that they followed Him because of the miracle of the bread and fish (John 6:26). They had eaten and were filled. They were misguided in their belief and expectations. They desired a bread and fish earthly Messiah – one who could satisfy their secular, carnal needs and desires. Real, divine truth they denigrated and resisted. Even after they witnessed signs and demonstrations of the miraculous persistently performed by the Christ, we are informed many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him (6:66). They lacked the spiritual depth and tenacity to follow when things became a little more intense and they misunderstood deeper spiritual truth divulged for their own good. They found it easier to turn than to press forward. 

Jesus’ question to his twelve foundational disciples still reverberates through the halls of His pilgrim church today – “Will ye also go away?” (v.67). Those other disciples had made the worst blunder of their lives. After all they had seen and heard they still chose to fall away, to go back, to walk no more with him. Peter quickly and rightly answered and reasoned – “Lord, to whom shall we go?” What a fitting answer! After all our years of service, dedication, consecration, sacrifices, and challenges – after all our years of proving this Christ and seeing the miracles and journeying with this Jesus – Where do we go now? Peter declared “. . . thou hast the words of eternal life” (v.68). He further contended and reinforced “And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God” (v.69). At this stage of the journey, absolutely no turning back, no senseless blunders, no falling away! We believe and are sure! No turning back, how tragic that would be!