The Danger of Unbelief

It is possible to have a remarkable spiritual "exodus" and yet fall away when trouble comes. If we have been Christians for any length of time, we have seen this lived out before our eyes. There is no such thing as a temporary Christian. Jesus said, "The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away" (Matthew 13:20-21).