BECOMING A DOG OR PIG

Is it better to have never loved at all than loved and lost? I know that saying is switched, but the following is the same mentality. Is it better to stay a sinner, in disobedience to God, than to accept His salvation gift - Christ Jesus - and His lifestyle only to return to your old nature through a powerful, sinful enticement?

Peter says, yes, these individuals should never have known, tasted or experienced right standing with God. In Peter's second letter, he defended and explained the role of prophecy in Scripture while revealing there were past false prophets who did harm and there are still future, harmful false teachers to come - "there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you."

The deceiving, manipulative and enticing power these false teachers within the faith will have is staggering. This second chapter of Second Peter lines up with the lukewarm church that is depicted to be present at the end in Revelation 3:14-22. Peter has a hard word for those who give-in and succumb in finality, but also in habitual behavior to the lifestyle taught by false teachers.

"If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them."

In fact, Peter likens these backsliders to dogs and pigs that would rather keep company with their own puke and muck. Peter says, "Of them the proverbs are true: 'A dog returns to its vomit,' and, 'A sow that is washed returns to her wallowing in the mud.'" 

We all go through cycles in life. The nation of Israel went through vomit cycles if you will. We all have challenging seasons in our lives like this, but God's plan for our lives and the working out of our faith showcase Christ's continued grace and mercy. 

No doubt, I would rather my behavior fall in line with a child, warrior, or struggling sheep than a dog or pig. So, my warning and encouragement to all believers today is be discerning in your mind and spirit for false teachers are here among us. Keep rooted in The Word of God, using it as a check or sounding board on our lifestyle SO THAT we will not be so easily entangled and swayed to return to our vomit or mud, therefore Becoming A Dog Or Pig.