This coming Lord’s Day morning we will arrive at the last two verses of the Epistle of James. And in the rather abrupt style that we have come to expect from him, the brother of our Savior ends his letter with what is at once a rather ominous word, but also a note of comfort and hope. In 5:19-20 he says, “My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.”

Here James suggests that it is possible for “anyone” within the fellowship of the Church to wander away from “the truth.” We have all experienced this to one degree or another; that slow drift away from the Word of God and the way of life demanded of those who belong to Jesus. The cause of such wandering is multifaceted. It may be due to neglect of the Christian disciplines of prayer, corporate worship, and the study of the Word. It may also be attributable to the experience of temptation, or various tribulations that deplete our strength and the resolve to fight the good fight of faith. Another cause of spiritual drifting is setting our affections on things of the world. We move away from Christ, His Word, and His body (the Church) when we are seduced by the siren calls and devilishly alluring beauty of this world. But whatever the cause, James informs us that such wandering is serious business. Spiritual life and death are in the balance (v. 20), and this means that there is no trivial drifting.

But the good news is that there is a way back, and we each have a part to play in the recovery of the wanderer. And added to this blessedly good news, there is a profound promise awaiting the one who returns to the truth through the pathway of contrition and faith.

Let’s all take time to read and prayerfully mediate upon these words, and then ask the Lord to speak powerfully to us this Sunday.