Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God (Hebrews 3:12).

We all know of situations, activities, and places we can go that make it easier for the Devil to tempt us. But now that we have been delivered from his power, we don’t want to put ourselves in a position of vulnerability again.

Why do I bring this up? Because I believe that we are living in the last days. And one of the prophetic signs we sometimes forget about is that in the last days, there will be a great apostasy, meaning that people will fall away from the Lord. According to 1 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.” This means that in these critical days in which we are living, the Devil is walking around like a roaring lion, looking for people that he can pull down (see 1 Peter 5:8).

The book of Hebrews warns about the perils of turning away spiritually. Hebrews 3:12 tells us, “Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God.” Notice this verse doesn't address unbelievers. Rather, it is a warning to Christians. The passage continues, “But exhort one another daily, while it is called ‘Today,’ lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end” (verses 13-14). Did you catch that? You will “become partakers of Christ”—if you are faithful to the end.

In other words, you need to cross the finish line.