False Teachers in Sodom and Gomorrah Destroyed (2 Pet. 2:6, 9b)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 03/29/2004

 

                                                                                                                       

My Worship Time                  Focus: False teachers in Sodom and Gomorrah Destroyed

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  2Peter 2:6, 9b

 

            Message of the verse:  “and if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction by reducing them to ashes, having made them an example to those who would live ungodly thereafter; and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment,” (NASB) “Later, he turned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into heaps of ashes and swept them off the face of the earth. He made them an example of what will happen to ungodly people.  Even while punishing the wicked right up until the Day of Judgment.” (NLT)

            I want to point out that I am following the outline that Dr. Wiersbe has given in his book on 2Peter, and in it he takes verses 3-6, and 9b to explain about the false teacher’s being destroyed, and the in the next section of his book, which cover verses 5-9, he writes about how the true believers are delivered. 

            In verse 6 Peter writes about the judgment that came upon Sodom and Gomorrah because of their gross sin, which Jude explains as “going after strange flesh.”  I must say that it seems to me that the Lord has shown me this morning that this certainly could be a picture of the judgment of hell that these lost sinners received.  After all it was fire and brimstone that God rained down upon them and many believe that the lost cities of Sodom and Gomorrah are under the Dead Sea.  At any rate the point of these verses that I have been looking at in these last few days is that God will indeed execute judgment upon false teachers, as the last part of verses six and nine, which says, “He made them an example of what will happen to ungodly people.  Even while punishing the wicked right up until the Day of Judgment.”  Both of these verses give a warning to those who are false teachers and those who listen to them.

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today: I believe that the Lord is showing me that I, like Peter, should make known to those whom God leads into my life the truth of the Gospel so that the Holy Spirit can use that truth to bring about salvation in their lives.

 

The Word of God was a challenge to my heart as I read it this morning.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  I want to allow God to do His work through me His way, and I would pray that the Holy Spirit would keep me from doing these works of God in the power of the flesh. 

 

Memory verses for the week:  Proverbs 3:5-9

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your won understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will direct your path.

Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil.

It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones.

Honor the Lord with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increases.