2 Peter 3:17-18
You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard lest, being carried away by the error of unprincipled men, you fall from your own steadfastness, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The “this that we are to know of beforehand” which the apostle Peter was writing about to all of us who have the same kind of faith as he had {2Pt.1:1} was and still is a message concerning the last days right up to the ‘day of eternity.’ That day as he clearly writes will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. {2Pt.3:10}
Peter had been there on the Mount of Olives when Jesus had told the disciples "See to it that no one misleads you. For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am Christ (anointed),' and will mislead many. And many false prophets will arise, and will mislead many, for false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.” (Mat.24:4-5, 11, 24)
As the apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, and to us, about those people who choose to listen to those liars said, "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to myths." {2Tim.4:3-4} So many church-goers, filling so many pews and seats or tuning their radios and televisions to hear those false prophets, will say today as they did in the days of Isaiah, 'Speak to us pleasant things, prophesy illusions.' {Is.30:10}
We who will hear what the Lord is speaking to us today through Peter and other faithful bond-servants must then continue to hunger for the solid food of the Word from the Holy Spirit so we are able to discern between good and evil. {Heb.5:14} Remember that Satan, that liar by nature, has had a lot of success deceiving people for a lot of years starting all the way back in the Garden with Adam and Eve. Jesus who is the truth {Jn.14:6} has told us exactly how to be on guard:
"Jesus therefore was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:31-32)
TEST EVERYTHING BY THE WORD OF GOD |
