ON THE VERGE OF RUIN

"I was on the verge of total ruin, in the midst of the assembly and congregation" (Prov 5:14, NKJV)

IN OTHER VERSIONS THIS TEXT READS, "I was almost in all evil in the midst of the congregation and assembly" (KJV), "I was almost in utter ruin in the midst of the assembly and congregation" (NASB), and "I have come to the brink of utter ruin in the midst of the whole assembly" (NIV). These words are found in some instruction Solomon gave to his son, who was no doubt Rehoboam, the only son the Scriptures affirm him to have fathered (1 Kgs 11:43).

THIS PARTICULAR INSTRUCTION regarded being deceived and seduced by a deceptive woman – a picture of all forms of deception and spiritual defilement. Should such a thing take place – that is, should a soul properly raised and taught be seduced by a deceiver – Solomon affirms certain things must be acknowledged. (1) I have hated instruction (5:12a). (2) My heart despised reproof (5:12b). (3) I have not obeyed the voice of my teachers (5:13a). (4) I have not inclined my ear to those who instructed me (5:13b). In other words, in order for someone who has been taught properly to be deceived, fall away, or swept up in delusion, certain attitudes have been willingly embraced. The individual came to hate and despise instruction and spiritual discipline. Correction was considered worthless, and due consideration was not given to it. A certain disdain was held for the teacher of truth, so that his word was neither valued nor heeded.

A DEPARTURE FROM THE TRUTH is never innocent, never inadvertent, and never accidental. It is always deliberate, always willing, and always preferred above remaining in the light. When the awareness of these circumstances settles upon the soul, departures from the faith and drawing back from the Lord will be taken seriously and avoided at all cost. Unfortunately, we are living in a day of spiritual obtuseness, when sensitive souls are rare, and understanding ones are exceedingly exceptional.

NOTICE THE EXPRESSION OF OUR TEXT. These are words that a deceived soul are to SAY – a person who has been moved out of the way that leads to life by the delusions of this world. This is said of a person who has been exposed to the truth, dwelt among godly people, and was part of a righteous "assembly" or "congregation." This is a person who has had the advantage of several godly people, and was, in some sense, surrounded by all manner of holy advantages. There was every reason for such a person to excel, advance in the truth, and be faithful in every way. Such a person had the right teacher, and was among the right people.

BUT, ALAS, ALL OF THIS PROVED TO BE FUTILE. Instead of become stable, profitable, and God-honoring, the person was "on the verge of total ruin" – right in the middle of a holy assembly! Instead of experiencing deliverance from all manner of iniquity, the person was "almost in all evil" (KJV) – right in the heart of a sanctified congregation. Rather than moving further and further from the dreadful pit from which he was delivered, this soul "came to the brink of utter ruin" (NIV) – while sitting among those who could help him be stable and triumphant.

DO YOU SUPPOSE SUCH INDIVIDUALS can be found today? Are there people, young and old, who have been given the advantage of a godly assembly and good teachers, yet have come to the brink of utter spiritual ruin? Are there poor souls whose ears have become "dull of hearing" even though they were subjected to the truth of God, sound words, and the good news of the Gospel of Christ? Indeed, who can deny that there is an uncomfortably large number of people who fall into this category. They are the people of whom the Spirit says, "some shall depart from the faith" (1 Tim 4:1), "having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof" (2 Tim 3:5), and they "turn away their ears from the truth" (1 Tim 4:4). These are the people of whom Jesus said, "the love of many shall wax cold" (Matt 24:12), and "which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away" (Luke 8:13). Peter said they were like a dog "turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire" (2 Pet 2:22; Prov 26:11). These depict very real circumstances – circumstances that are to be viewed precisely as the Scriptures describe them.

THE FACT THAT SUCH A CONDITION can arise at all is tragic. That it occurs "in the midst of the assembly and congregation" is even more lamentable, particularly when we are speaking of "the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth" (1 Tim 3:15).

UNLESS THE SOUL IS ITSELF INVOLVED IN THE AFFAIRS OF A GODLY ASSEMBLY, that very gathering will have no sanctifying influence upon the individual. A person can eat the Passover with Jesus, then leave the room to betray Him to His enemies (John 13:27-30). But such a thing cannot be done without purposing to do so. People cannot "come to the brink of ruin in the midst of the assembly" without closing their ears, hardening their hearts, and quenching the Spirit.

THE POINT IS, of course, that all of this can be avoided by remaining tender to the Lord and His Word. This is accomplished by resisting the devil, steadfast in the faith (1 Pet 5:8-9). When a person has the advantage of a good assembly, there certainly is no need to come to the brink of ruin while sitting there. Rather, one can be brought up higher, made more stable, and conformed more to Jesus. If any professed believer does NOT have such an advantage, they must immediately seek to gain it. When we are put into Christ (1 Cor 1:30), we are simultaneously put into His body (1 Cor 12:13,18). The fact that we are placed in that body "as it has pleased" the Lord confirms that an mystical body is not the point of reference.

A FUNCTIONING body is the point, where members edify one another, and the Head is ministering through the various joints and bands (Eph 4:15-16; Col 2:19). If that is not happening, true spiritual advantages will be exceedingly difficult to find, for that is simply the way Jesus works. Further, if such advantages are not being realized, one necessarily moves closer to the border of ruin.

– Given O. Blakely