God Can Lift Up The Fallen

A long time ago there was a commercial on television with the words, “Help, I’ve fallen and I can’t get up.”  When the people fall physically, which is very common among the elderly, the fire department can be called because they know how to put people back on their feet in the proper way without injuring them.

The Bible has much to say regarding falling emotionally and spiritually. In these cases the Lord is the helper. Psalm 145:14 says, “The Lord upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down.”

Just as people call the fire department when they need help physically, so we are to call upon God when we need help spiritually or emotionally. “ For he delivers the needy when he calls, the poor and him who has no helper, he has pity on the weak and the needy and saves the lives of the needy” (Psalm 72:12-13).

Not only does God help lift us up spiritually and emotionally, He also lifts us up in the presence of our enemies. Micah 7:8 says, “ Rejoice not over me O my enemy. When I fall, I shall rise, when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me.”  The context of this verse is that God will raise us up out of the darkness of judgment, and He will be our light.

Of the greatest importance is when people fall spiritually. There are three ways this happens.

1. The fall can be from the love of others. Revelation 2:4-5 states, “I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.  Remember from where you have fallen, repent and do the works you did at first.”

2. The fall can be from the gospel. Hebrews 6:4-6 says, “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 ages 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.” Today we are seeing some so-called evangelical Christians who are forsaking the basic tenants of the gospel.

3. The fall can be from grace, as spoken of in Galatians 5:4. “You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law. You have fallen away from grace .” This is in reference to keeping the law.

After all that has been said God will be able to “Keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God our savior through Jesus Christ, our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority before all time now and forever amen.”

How do we keep from falling spiritually? We do it through prayer and by keeping in the Word of God. We must stay connected to a local congregation that is Bible-based and does not compromise the gospel message.

Beware of those who teach a different gospel (Galatians 1:6-8). Strive together for the gospel. “Let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ so that whether I come and see you or are absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit with one mind, striving side by side for the faith of the gospel and not frightened in anythung by your opponent” (Phil. 1:27-28).

How does a Christian help lift up another who has fallen spiritually? “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the of Christ” (Galatians 6:1-2).

Do you know of anyone who has fallen spiritually or emotionally? How can you help give them a lift up?