2 PETER 2:4-11

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2007

WHO ARE THE FALSE TEACHERS?
 

Doom of False Teachers
4 For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment; 5 and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly; 6 and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly; 7 and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked 8 (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)— 9 then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment, 10 and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries, 11 whereas angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them before the Lord. 2 Peter 2:4-11 (NKJV)

St. Peter certainly paints a picture of gloom for the false teachers that turn the people away from the Loving God who created them. In our day, I think that it is important that he specifically cites those responsible for teaching approval of the sins of the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. St. Peter also answers another question that people often ask. When people of fame or high authority get away with some of the evil things they do, people ask, “How do they get away with that? Some say they do because of their money, their fame, their power and so forth.  In the eyes of God, all of these answers are wrong. The true answer is that they don’t get away with it. Yes, they may escape a jail sentence, they may even escape any kind of conviction or punishment. The truth is that they don’t fool God and they don’t get away with it. Go back and read verses 4 - 8 again and see that the wicked do not get away with it; they simply await the Final Judgment when they will be assigned to the depths of hell for Eternity. Now read verse 9 where you not only read of the judgment of the wicked but you also find assurance for yourself as you walk with God. This assurance comes as the Lord knows how to deliver the righteous, the godly out of temptation. The remaining verse shows how the ungodly live and how opposite is the life of the godly, those who believe and seek to do and teach God’s Will.

All of this is important and much time should be spent meditating on these verses. But we cannot stop there. WHO ARE THE FALSE TEACHERS? We cannot pass this off by saying the leaders of the people where Noah lived or the leaders of Sodom and Gomorrah. We cannot pass this off today by saying the liberals, the entertainment industry, those involved in organized crime, the terrorists or on whatever group we want to place the blame.

In fact, there is an even more important question than WHO ARE THE FALSE TEACHERS? I think you can guess what that question is? AM I A FALSE TEACHER? I am afraid that we don’t ask that question. We are teachers whether we want to be or not. Everything we do or say has the opportunity to teach anyone who observes us. Unfortunately far too many people base what is right according to what the world says and not what God says. If the world teaches one thing and God another, and we teach according to the world, we are false teachers.

A simple example -- A person uses God’s Name in swearing or in just plain conversation. Today it is common to hear “O, my God” as either a statement of extreme happiness, despair or sadness. It is common practice. God says, no, that is wrong, you shall not take My Name in vain, that is, to use it in a useless manner. Therefore, if I use the word GOD in any way except to call on Him, to offer praise of Him or seek His help, or anything related to God, Himself, then I am a FALSE TEACHER. Not only am I guilty of taking His Name in vain but I am also guilty of leading others away from Him.

One other thing we must be careful of and that is not to allow the world to convince us that what was written in the Bible and took place so many, many years ago is no longer relevant in our modern world. I cannot accept the FALSE TEACHING of those who say the story of Sodom and Gomorrah does not apply today because we live in a different time and a different age. We still live in God’s World, We still live under the rules He has set forth. We still have Jesus who “is the same, yesterday, today and tomorrow.”

What we have lost is the desire and the urgency to read and study the Bible day after day. We not only need to do this for our own spiritual health, but even more importantly so that we do not remain or become the FALSE TEACHERS who will lead others astray and be responsible for their loss.

WE PRAY: HEAVENLY FATHER, send your Holy Spirit upon me to touch my heart and open my eyes to see any false teachings that come from me. Then lead me to your Word and guide me with your Love that I might overcome those false teaching and live a life that te
aches your Love. AMEN

A SUGGESTION FOR LIVING THE DEVOTION