I Timothy 4:1 “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons.”      

We know this as apostasy which means to move away from a place where you have previously taken a stand – departed or fallen away.  We hear so much today about the “falling away” by some Christians and some churches.  COVID exacerbated this as also our anti-Christian culture.   The Gallup poll research in 2021 found that for the first time since the 1930’s, fewer than 50% of people in our nation belonged to any house of worship of any kind.  This research also showed that for many years now that the fastest growing religious demographic has been the so-called “Nones.”  The “Nones” are those who answer None when asked about their religious affiliation.  They are not even atheists or agnostics. They simply have NO BELIEFS.  Have you heard of them or even know some of them in your neighborhood? 

This is a reminder for us that we are to remain committed and firmly grounded in the Christian church, God’s Word, and Jesus living in us.  We are now the minority and we cannot fall away and join the “Nones.”  We must guard our lives and daily walk for any signs of departing from the Christian life.  We must keep the faith and practice daily disciplines of living for Jesus and growing more like Him every day.  It is not how we start; it is how we finish.  Remember this: “Until a man finds Jesus, he starts at no beginning and works toward no ending.”  The enemy has always offered deceiving temptations and false doctrines and he has the goal of moving Christians to “Nones.”  True Christians don’t depart from the faith and fall away to give heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons.  One more thing:  The “Nones” are going to have a big surprise when life is over.