Psalms 1:4

"The wicked are not so,

But are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

Therefore the wicked shall not stand in the judgment,

Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous."

The simile of the chaff is found often in the Bible and is drawn from the old method of threshing grain, the chaff being worthless was blown away by the wind or burned. The New Testament use of this same figure begins with John the Baptist's declaration with regard to Jesus Christ, that, "He will gather his wheat into the garner, but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire" (Matthew 3:12).

"The wicked shall not stand." Not only will the wicked be unable to stand in the judgment of the Last Day, but they will also be unable to maintain themselves as stable members of the believing children of God through Christ. Here is the explanation of why so many fall away from their faith and "drop out" of established congregations of the faithful.