For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned. - Hebrews 6:4-8 ESVBut why? Many of us think of friends and relatives in this connection. They were once with us in the faith. We witnessed their baptisms. We worshipped and prayed with them. We worked with them in the Kingdom. But now they "have fallen away" and we are praying fervently for them to repent, turn away from their contempt for Jesus. Surely they can yet return to Him and be saved with us. Oh God, please, please make it so!
But he says "it is impossible." Why? Consider his teaching very carefully. He draws an analogy to worthless land. This is similar to Jesus' analogy in His Sermon on the Mount about salt.
"You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. - Mat 5:13 ESVTable salt, of course, is sodium chloride, a very stable compound. Stored dry it cannot "lose its taste." It can becomes diluted with water or a person can lose his ability to taste it. Taste buds may no longer function properly. In either case, the saltiness cannot be restored. Something has changed. Consequently you might as well throw the salt outside and let people trample on it. It does no good.
In like manner, consider the writer's analogy of land. Jesus also gave us a parable of the human heart as soil upon which the Good Seed of God's Word is spread.
"Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and immediately it sprang up, since it had no depth of soil. And when the sun rose, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away. Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. And other seeds fell into good soil and produced grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold." And he said, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." - Mark 4:3-9 ESVIn His explanation the Lord warns us that Satan is ever at work to confuse, twist, pervert and corrupt God's Good Word of the Gospel. He further explains how some who hear God's Word of love and forgiveness in Christ fall away when they face trials and persecution. The faith of yet others is choked out by the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things rather than Jesus. Our old enemies, the devil, the world and our sinful flesh, are always at work.
All this is a sober warning to each one of us. Going on to maturity in Christ is one thing, but be assured, it is no easy task. As the hymn says, "I walk in danger all the way." However, the same hymn concludes with these comforting words:
4. I walk with angels all the way,
They shield me and befriend me;
All Satan's power is held at bay
When heavenly hosts attend me;
They are my sure defense,
All fear and sorrow, hence!
Unharmed by foes, do what they may,
I walk with angels all the way.
5. I walk with Jesus all the way,
His guidance never fails me;
Within His wounds I find a stay
When Satan's power assails me;
And by His footsteps led,
My path I safely tread.
In spite of ills that threaten may,
I walk with Jesus all the way.
6. My walk is heavenward all the way;
Await my soul, the morrow,
When thou shalt find release for aye
From all thy sin and sorrow.
All worldly pomp, begone!
To heaven I now press on.
For all the world I would not stay;
My walk is heavenward all the way.
Meanwhile, we will not cease to pray for our sons, daughters, parents and friends who seem to have lost their faith. We do not know their hearts. While they are on this earth, there is yet hope, as Jesus said to Peter and the other apostles,"Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers." - Luke 22:31-32 ESV
