Q:
Why do some people drift away from God as they grow older? I grew up in a strong religious family that was very active in church, but somehow I got away from it, and I'm not sure why.
A:
People drift away from God for all kinds of reasons, I’ve found. Often it’s simply because they became preoccupied with other things—although sometimes it’s because they have become trapped by a sin or way of living that they refuse to give up.
I often think of one of Jesus’ parables in this connection. (You may remember it; you can find it in Luke 8:4-15.) In it Jesus told about a farmer who sowed seed in his field, hoping it would grow and mature. Some seed landed on good soil and produced a bountiful crop—but other seed didn’t; it fell on hard or rocky ground where it couldn’t grow. Still other seed landed among thorns, and for a time it sprouted and looked like it might prosper. But the fragile plants didn’t last; the thorns overcame them.
This, Jesus said, can happen to us. We hear God’s Word; it may even begin to take root in our souls, but over time it gets smothered by other things. Jesus said, “As they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature” (Luke 8:14).
Perhaps this is what has happened to you. But listen: God still loves you, and He wants to forgive you and welcome you into His family. Don’t look back at the end of your life and realize you missed all that God had for you. Instead, turn to Christ and confess your sins and your need of Him today. He wants to welcome you home.