Nov 28 Daniel 3:13-30, Daniel 4:1-18 2 Peter 2 Proverbs 29:1-9

Dan 3:17-18

If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” 

Great faith, but no assumptions. They believed God was able, but would not assume to know His plan.  That’s a great attitude. These guys refused to compromise – they made a stand for God knowing full well it may mean their life. They believed He could save them but they wouldn’t presume He would – but as far as they were conceded their life didn’t matter when it came to making a stand for God. 

What an amazing attitude! We don’t make a stand and make a deal with God that He will get us out of it. We make a stand even if it costs everything. 

And guess what? He did get them out of it. Because He is amazing!

2 Pet 2:1-2

But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. 

How can people who call themselves Christians deny Jesus Christ? I mean, His name is literally in the title. But Peter said it would happen. That there are those who bring in destructive heresies. But be aware, they won’t call them heresies. That’s too easy. They will secretly bring them in. They will call them things like “progressive Christianity” or a more “holistic, less narrow faith”. But it’s a ruse to hide the real name… heresy. 

Many will fall for it. And it only brings destruction. 

Don’t fall for it. Keep close to the truth of The Word. Don’t presume to change it to fit with your own ideas. We change our minds to fit with the word, not the other way around. 

2 Pet 2:20-21

For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them.

We have escaped the chains and entanglements if the world and our sin. We have had the ways of righteousness opened to us. But Peter give a very severe warming here. To those who allow the entanglements of the world to draw them back, who turn form the way of truth… the second state is worse than the first. 

Peter is saying that for those who backslide or turn away from Jesus – it would have been better if they had not known in the first place. 

Once we know the truth, we cannot turn away. That’s like a dog returning to its vomit. 

Keep close to Jesus. Don’t turn away. Don’t let it be said if you, it would have been better if you’d never known the truth in the first place. And if we know people who have backslid… it’s not a small thing. It matters. Their eternal fate is at risk.