2 Peter 2:17-22 –These are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm. For them the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved. For, speaking loud boasts of folly, they entice by sensual passions of the flesh those who are barely escaping from those who live in error. They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved. For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them. What the true proverb says has happened to them: “The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.”
When Jesus needed His disciples the most, two of them failed Him most publicly. Judas disowned Christ, and Peter denied Christ.
Each man, however, responded very differently to their failure. Peter turned around, did love Jesus, was sorry, and changed. Judas never turned around, never loved Jesus, never was sorry, and hung himself.
Every one of us will fail as they did. Then, we have to respond which of those two responses we will choose.
Now an old man who is finishing his life in faithful service to Jesus, Peter reminds us that not everyone has a happily-ever-after story. Sadly, some people self-destruct.
Not everyone gets the help they need.
Not everyone dies and goes to a better place.
Not everyone has a good heart.
Not everyone hits rock bottom and bounces back.
Some people love “boasts of folly” about their “sensual passions”, live “enslaved” to the “flesh”, and choose “defilements” as they “live in error” as they enjoy a conga line headed to the “gloom of utter darkness”.
Before it makes any sense to learn how to change, you have to want to change.
An old pastor I once knew liked to say that hard words produce soft people, and soft words produce hard people. I’ve used that line a lot over the years. When Peter says that some folks are like a dog who eats garbage, gets sick, throws it up, and then gives it another try, he is using hard words. When Peter says that some folks are like a pig that you take in, clean up, and rub perfume on only to see them escape out the front door and go jump in a nasty hole, because that is the lifestyle they love, he is using hard words.
Peter’s point is that once you meet Jesus and get a new nature, your desires change. What you eat and drink, where you go, how you live, and what you want just changes. For some people, their desires never change which means that, sadly, they never met Jesus.
How about you? Are you more like Judas or Peter?
To download the free e-book Power Under Pressure which is a study in 2 Peter for individuals, groups, and families from Pastor Mark click HERE. To listen to Pastor Mark’s 4 sermons on 2 Peter preached in the summer of 2020, visit realfaith.com. These and other resources are made possible by our ministry partners who support Real Faith as a Bible teaching ministry of Mark Driscoll Ministries to whom we say THANK YOU!