”You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.“
II Peter 3:17-18 NKJV
Many years ago, I heard a conversation, which I would probably now intrude myself into, but at the time I did not.
There were two people talking as they went down a hallway. I was in a side room making copies. I heard one of these individuals saying that they now knew that they could drink in moderation, and did not have to be so inflexible.
You see, both of these people had been struggling with substance abuse; one was further down the road, in terms of recovery, than the other. The one who was further down the road, was making this observation about how they were “free” to do these things in moderation. I knew that this was terrible advice; but since I wasn’t even supposed to be hearing the conversation, I remained silent.
A little background: I had already been “burned” once by an individual in front of whom I said that I don’t drink at all because “I don’t need another thing to worry about doing in moderation.” This individual retorted to me, “So you have the Holy Spirit and you can’t drink in moderation?” Again, at that time, I did not have a response. I would now.
Let me give you the rest of the story in terms of both of these scenarios.
In the one in which the recovering addict said to the other recovering addict that they could now use substances in “moderation,” the one proclaiming their newly found “freedom,” died prematurely of substance-abuse. The other, fell away from their commitment to sobriety and fell back into addiction for some length of time.
In the other scenario where the person chided me in terms of the fact that I should be able to drink in moderation, that person has basically given themselves over to doing a whole host of things contrary to the word of God.
Now, please understand me; I certainly don’t think that everyone who consumes alcohol in moderation is going to die an early death. Nor do I think that they will necessarily fall into apostasy. The point I want to make to you here is, you cannot gauge your own steadfastness, your own resolve, by what others allow in themselves. Your steadfastness before the Lord is a very personal issue.
Now, there are some things that are clearly against the word of God, and there should be no talk of moderation, or “being able to handle these things.” Sin when it is finished, brings forth death, no matter who you are.
Make no mistake, one of the worst things you can do in terms of maintaining your steadfastness, your resolve, is to look at what other people are doing, or allowing in themselves, and following suit, rather than doing what God has called YOU to do.
In our opening scripture we see Peter warning the people not to follow after the ways of false teachers who were twisting scriptures in order to do the things they were doing.
Friend, don’t allow the influence of others to cause you to fall away from your own steadfastness, from your own resolve to follow after Jesus. You have the Holy Spirit in you to lead you and guide you. Listen to Him; listen to the word of God. Follow the Good Shepherd Who will never lead you into temptation. He will keep you in the way you should go
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
”Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.“
James 1:16-17 NKJV
There seems to be a very disturbing trend in terms of Hollywood and popular music stars. The trend is the incorporation of not only very sexually charged images, but those images presented in conjunction with demonic expressions.
Indeed, I saw an image from a concert from one of the most popular female singers in the world. It truly looked like a scene from hell, complete with a dark throne, huge serpent images, as well as human sacrifice references.
Somewhere along the line, a whole generation has somehow been persuaded that things associated with Satan are exciting and cool. This deception leads to opening oneself up for the hordes of hell, to not only influence behavior, but to enter in and control the lives of the vulnerable.
James, in speaking of enduring temptation, references the fact that we are drawn away into temptation by our own strong desires.
Tragically, the one being drawn into temptation is only thinking about pursuing that strong desire, totally oblivious to where that sin ultimately leads.
”Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.“
James 1:12-15 NKJV
In our opening scripture we see what James had to say immediately after referencing the cause of our temptation. He basically is saying that those who enter into temptation, have been deceived into thinking that these are good things, things they need and can’t do without.
Now, in fact, sinful behavior can be pleasurable for a season. In the Hall of Fame of Faith, we see Moses referenced as refusing temporary pleasures in order to attain a Heavenly reward.
”By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.“
Hebrews 11:24-26 NKJV
Friend, don’t fall for the enemy’s propaganda. The world, the flesh and the devil, in offering lures of pleasure, are trying to lead God’s children into temptation where they can ultimately be destroyed.
Make no mistake, if what you’re wanting does not have its source in God, it will lead you astray and leave you used up and lost.
To maintain our resolve to faithfully follow Christ even when facing strong temptation, we must take seriously this instruction from Colossians 3:
”Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.“
Colossians 3:2-7 NKJV
Don’t be deceived. If it isn’t from God, it isn’t good!
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
”For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.“
I Timothy 4:8 NKJV
In the early 1960s they came out with a fruitflavored taffy kind of candy called, “Now and Later.” The name seemed to imply that whereas you could eat some of it now, you would also be able to have some to eat later. As well, you’re chewing the candy now, and it’s still going to still be in your mouth later. Either way, the point was that this isn’t something you just scarf down and it’s all gone.
Yesterday, as we discussed the need to focus on Jesus, we made this statement:
“But, if we look at Jesus, if we look at what He did to extend salvation to us, while also considering what that salvation brings for now and eternity, we will finish well.”
You see, some people discount our hope in Christ as looking for “pie in the sky when you die,” a statement that is actually quite disgusting.
I will point out that eternity is a long time; so even if all of our reward, all of the things for which to hope are found in eternity, it would definitely be worth enduring what we must in this life, to spend the rest of eternity ruling and reigning with the Lord. However, the word of God is all about informing us of the fact that there is a now and a later for our hope.
Now certainly, for many people, the first thought in terms of the need to get their heart right, is about where they will spend eternity. As a matter of fact, the Bible does assure that no matter how it looks in terms of who’s getting all the good things now, the righteous will inherit the earth, whereas the unrighteous will be destroyed.
”For evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the Lord, They shall inherit the earth.“
Psalms 37:9 NKJV
But make no mistake, it is ignorance in terms of Who God is and what has been done in Jesus Christ, that leads people to call our hope nothing more than “pie in the sky.”
Paul, hearing of the faithfulness of the people in the church at Ephesus, explains to them that he is praying that they will come to understand what their faithfulness will bring now and later.
”that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.“
Ephesians 1:17-21 NKJV
Yes, these people were already faithful, but Paul prays that their understanding will be enlightened—or their spiritual eyes opened—to see the benefit of what Christ has done both in this present life, and in eternity.
Here, John the beloved helps us understand the now and later in terms of our hope in Christ:
”Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.“
I John 3:1-3 NKJV
You see, we are God’s children NOW. With that, we haven’t even begun to understand what glory awaits us LATER.
Friend, we have good reason to maintain our resolve to follow Christ. As the sons of God now, we have access to His Holy Spirit Who leads us in the paths of righteousness. As well, the Holy Spirit brings the dynamo of God into our present lives.
Yes, goodness and mercy are following us NOW.
The Peace that passes understanding is ours NOW.
But, what will it be like when we are gathered to our Lord? Oh, what glory awaits us! And, as our opening scripture informs us, godliness has profit now AND later. So, let’s stay the course!
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!