SQUIRMING IS BETTER THAN BURNING

Squirming is better than burning

 

 

 

Although Lot initially was very taken in by big city living when he saw the constant sin in Sodom and Gomorrha the Bible says that God took him out of this land as judgment was coming down on the city. He was very vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked. That means he was troubled in his heart. He was a righteous man dwelling among them but he saw and heard evil all the time and this vexed his righteous soul from day to day because of their unlawful deeds before God.

 

The vexing of our souls is very painful. Peter then gives a very practical solution to sin by writing the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations. He also knows how to reserve the unjust into the day of judgment to be punished. A true believer in Jesus Christ will struggle with his sins but an unbeliever will not because for all practical purpose they are not answering to God. When Peter writes He knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations this implies that we have to meet God half way because He is not going to take choice from us in our lives.

 

Peter changes his tone. He writes against people that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness. He then adds those that despise government by calling them presumptuous, self willed and not afraid to speak evil of dignities. This is something to think abut because Peter was unjustly punished by the government many times in his life. Angels who are greater in power and might do not bring railing accusations against them before the Lord. Peter is writing about slander in this context. I will expand on this after I quote the Bible passage.

 

The apostle Peter wrote against created creatures that speak evil of things they do not understand and gives the bad news that they will utterly perish in their own corruption. If we really read the Bible the word of God always gives the good news along with the bad news. If a person just gives the good news he or she is just telling one side of the story. One person once said tell me the bad news and let me squirm as opposed to telling me the good news and let me burn. The problem is people in general do not squirm but take the easy way out by denying God in a settle or deliberate way. They just go on with their lives and usually fall into some sort of sin.

 

Remember the apostle Paul could not even be passive in his approach toward the sin in his life. "But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway." 1 Corinthians 9: 27. If Paul had to do this daily then all the more reason we should be engaging in this practice before God with our bodies. God wants us to live in a godly fashion and He will not settle for half of our spirit. We need to follow the example of the apostle Paul and be proactive in our faith for Jesus Christ. 

 

Peter then writes about the reward of unrighteousness which is a very different way of explaining this horrible reality. He says these people will try and deceive us while they are in our company. They have eyes full of adultery and can not cease from sin. If we have a besetting sin we should put this very high on our pecking order before God. People that live in their own sin may go to the next step beguiling unstable souls. This is a heart they have exercised as a practice of sins in a lifestyle. They are at the point in life when these people have covetous practices which is nothing more than idolatry. God desires all of us for Him so if we are going to walk in the other direction with sin not having any regard for Jesus Christ I don't think this is to difficult to figure out in light of our life and eternity. Let me quote the original text so you can read the passage and perhaps make reference to it if need be in this particular study of the Bible.

 

(7) "And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (8) (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) (9) The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: (10) But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. (11) Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord. (12) But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; (13) And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; (14) Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:" 2nd Peter 2: 7 - 14.

 

When God sends destruction on the ungodly he commands deliverance for the righteous. God had an interest in preserving Lot. He was a just man probably because he was under a very good teacher. Abraham had a lot of influence in teaching him the ways of God. Lot certainly did not follow the multitude to sin or engage in evil in an extremely degenerate city but did walk upright before God. In their company he did not escape guilt or grief. Lot was vexed from day to day. He did see their wickedness but did not reconcile him to it because he wanted to live righteous before God. The Lord knows those that are His because of their faith and obedience to Him.

 

It has got to be comforting that we are in the favor of God. It is not difficult for God to deliver His People. If we are at a loss Jesus Christ will find a way of escape because the deliverance of the godly is the work of God. He has the wisdom to understand the way and the power to work out the deliverance of our temptation. Of course the unjust has no share in the salvation God works out for the righteous. Unfortunately the wicked are reserved to the day of judgment.

 

The apostle Peter again warns us about seducers and again returns to talk about them. They walk in their flesh. Flesh is not defined in the Bible but it is that independent streak that rises up against God. These people that Peter was writing about respond directly contrary to the righteous precepts of God. They are complying with their corrupt nature. God is giving us the choice. If we have evil opinions this will be accompanied with evil practices. Those who propagate error are improving in wickedness.

 

If they continue in their sinful course and increase into deeper ungodliness they also pour contempt on those whom God has set in authority over them and requires to obey the law. The apostle writes about this in verse ten but Peter was talking about those that follow after their own flesh. The apostle also writes that the angels bring their accusations of sinful creatures before the Lord because He is the judge and avenger of all sin and injustice. The angels hold no bitterness with the accusations they bring to God so how much more should we follow their good example. If we can bring our accusations to God without rage but compassion this is being obedient to Jesus Christ and as believers we become more meek and merciful.

 

Peter in verse twelve explains how people under the power of sin are far removed from observing divine revelation that they can not exercise reason. Peter calls them brute beasts who follow after sensitive sinful appetites and as a result have an inclination to their carnal minds. The apostle also writes they will be destroyed in their own corruption. They will get the reward of their unrighteousness. I hope I am writing to an audience that desires a reward in righteousness.

 

One sort of sins prepare for another and as a result their eyes are full of adultery. If a person has impure lusts he or she tends to influence others to a lifestyle of sin. These are the people that are in the greatest danger of being led away into sin and error. Peter calls them the unstable. If the heart of a person is not established with grace he or she is easily turned into a way of sin. This can turn into riotous, lascivious and covetous living. If people chase after riches and desire the wealth of the world because of sin then they do not know God. The problem is people are abandoning themselves to all sorts of lusts but the apostle Peter calls them cursed children. We as Christians need to wrestle with our sins whatever they may be because the best defense is a good offence. Most people go in the opposite direction away from God. We are either going to God or away from God but there is no middle ground. If we stay lukewarm we will fall into some sort of sin/sins.

 

If you have not accepted Jesus Christ into your heart as personal Savior and Lord now may be a good time to repent of all your sins and invite the Lord into your life. Peter once again writes about some really serious issues but we all have to come to terms with the subject of sin. This lifestyle will destroy our lives and eternity. The only way we can live pure and holy is through Jesus Christ.

 

I am amazed as to how many people try and do this without God. It is like they have all the answers but do not know anything. These people tend to drift from one thing to another but never seem to arrive at port. I hope and pray that you chose the Son of God for your life to be in your heart. If you are struggling with sin join the club but pray to God about your transgressions so you can go in the direction of holiness. We are either going toward God in pureness or away from God in our sins. I repent to God at least once a day because I struggle with my transgressions but that is far better than not caring and living my life apart from God.

 

God bless you,

 

Bob D.