Rolling in the mud again
Rolling in the mud again: The sad reality of falling away from the faith
The apostle Peter may not have contributed much to the Bible in terms of volume, but the power of his message contained in only two letters is undeniable. From a disciple who was at best emotionally unstable to being one of the most fervent and focused advocates of the gospel, Peter does not mince his words. In his time already, with a church that was still young, he saw the start of what we are experiencing on a massive scale today – the departure from the faith in Jesus Christ as the risen Lord and Saviour. He penned these words:
18For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. 19While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. 20For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 21For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. 22But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb (Proverbs 26:11), The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire. – 2 Peter 2:18-22
To understand the context, start with verse one of chapter two and then read all the way to the end of the chapter. Peter starts writing about false prophets in the church. They were there from the start (note the past tense used) and they will be there in the future (note the future tense). Not only are they false, but they lead astray those that adhere to and believe their false teaching. In turn, the latter turn against the gospel and make it out to be evil.
These are hard words to comprehend, but they are very true, more so in our time than at any other. The devil is determined to destroy the work done for the sake of the gospel. In my own life, right now, I am seeing individuals who claim to be Christian believers, but what they do (or not do) and say (or not say) show otherwise. You cannot one moment say you adhere to the gospel of salvation but then mingle with unbelievers and follow their ways. Peter was not even referring to the unsaved outside of the church. He was referring to those inside the already-established institution, the ekklesia, those who have been called out of darkness into His marvellous light (1 Peter 2:9-11).
Peter ends with a rather vile example. We must remember that Peter primarily worked among the Jews, for whom a pig was an unclean, despised animal. He uses a pig to demonstrate how people are that have turned their backs on the gospel. The sow what was clean, simply got back into her puddle of mud. She returned to her old nature, one that seems more comfortable than to be clean and walk cleanly among those of her kind who are dirty.
How is it possible that people who once walked in the marvellous light that is Jesus (John 8:12) can now prefer to walk in darkness once again? Note again that we are not referring to unbelievers but to those believers who were already part of the church but have left the faith. These are not only the false teachers, but all that followed these false teachers without bothering to test them:
1Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 2Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 3And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. – 1 John 4:1-3
You see, we live in a society where convenience triumphs over effort. Few people bother to take notes during the Sunday service and at home read what they heard in church. Because they do not bother to test the spirits (the teachers), false prophets are allowed to flood the church. These go unchallenged because ordinary believers do not know the Word so that they can discern right from wrong. I remember that once in a church council meeting, an elder tested those present asking where he was quoting from. It turned out that he quoted from a non-Biblical source. They were amazed that this was not in the Bible.
Paul also mentions the falling away that will take place before the antichrist is revealed (2 Thessalonians 2:3). Do you see signs of the falling away taking place around you? If you do not, then I fear you are spiritually blind or are already part of the group that are falling away. Tucked away in the quoted reference we started with, are these words:
21For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. – 2 Peter 2:21
When we look at this verse, Peter clearly states that ignorance of the truth of the gospel is preferred to turning your back on the same gospel after learning its truth. This does not provide an escape for unbelievers not to be saved, as all will be judged according to whether they accepted the saving grace of Jesus Christ. What Peter emphasises is that turning away from the truth that was preached to you under difficult circumstances is a much bigger transgression.
Conclusion
We live in evil times, where what was once the right way, is now seen by the world to be wrong (See The Wheat and the Tares for more.). Any person who does not accept the wrong way, is accused of being unloving and hateful. This is exactly what was predicted would happen, so in a way we as believers should acknowledge that the Word is right after all. “You must respect my rights, but it is my right not to respect yours.”; “It is my right to be gay, but do not dare to tell me that being straight is the standard. Your standard does not count.”; “I can have a parade to flaunt my sin, and take over public property, but don’t you dare to stand on a street corner to proclaim your gospel.”; “Why does your God allow evil things to happen?” No, my friend, it is not God that allows it. He gave mankind the power to rule. You with your human rights have messed it up. Why would you blame God, whom you do not admit exists anyway?
The sad reality of falling away from the faith is eternal damnation from which there is no escape. The world is headed for a catastrophe unlike anything that has ever happened. Open your eyes to the devil’s lies, repent of your sins, and allow yourself to be washed clean by the blood of the Lamb. Today may be your last chance to do so. Do not delay.