In the Bible there are several examples of people who fell away and
then returned to the Lord and were faithful from then on. John Mark is one example. He
went with Paul and Barnabas on the first missionary journey but turned back. Later he
returned to the Lord and was faithful to Him even writing the book we know as the gospel
of Mark. Simon Peter would be another example. He fell away in denying the Lord at the
time of Jesus trial and death. But he repented of that and came back to be the one who led
the way in the preaching of the gospel. Later, Paul records in Galatians 2, Peter fell
again becoming a hypocrite in his actions. But he repented and was faithful from then on
to God.
In my own life I've seen hundreds of people who were faithful to
Christ but became involved in sin and fell away, some getting involved in immoral living
and others in drugs and alcohol or both. These went far away from God. but many have
returned to serve Him with more zeal than ever, leading others to the Lord by their lives.
These serve as examples of what the Bible said could happen in Galatians 6:1 and James
5:19-20.
I trust this will be helpful. If you need more discussion please
write.