2 Peter 3:16 As also
in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things
hard to be understood, which they that
are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other
scriptures, unto their own destruction.
17 Ye therefore,
beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led
away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. KJV
I call this “Twisted,” because of the word “wrest” as is noted in this
passage. We don’t use this word “wrested” in our everyday speech today. “Twisted.”
It’s an apt description of what is happening today. While this was a pervasive spirit
in Peter and Paul’s day. This spirit has become magnified even greater with
each following generation.
Peter said it was going on in his day. There were
individuals that were as he puts it, “wresting”
or as we say “twisting” the
word of GOD. With the result being to, “their
own destruction.”
How does one arrive to such a place? A question with perhaps
many answers or at least possibly bring forth many opinions.
Let us look at Peter’s reasoning and perhaps conclude it to be
the same today. In context Peter is making mention of Paul’s writings being
hard to understand. That those who were unstable and unlearned took the
writings of Paul and twisted them. Turned them. And as always, prove our ignorance
of what we don’t know or what we don’t like. This all so we can manipulate the
word to that which we do like. Let’s make the word fit us instead of making
ourselves fit the word. Unfortunately forgetting or denying the destination
called destruction. Or as one translation calls it, disaster.
2 Peter 3:15 And
remember, the Lord is waiting so that people have time to be saved. This is
just as our beloved brother Paul wrote to you with the wisdom God gave him
—
16 speaking of these
things in all of his letters. Some of
his comments are hard to understand, and those who are ignorant and unstable
have twisted his letters around to mean something quite different from what he
meant, just as they do the other parts of Scripture — and the result is
disaster for them. NLT
This is nothing new. Man has been doing this since the
beginning. What is the concern for bringing this up? The answer is simple. We
are living in a day where there was once considered “truth.” And due to those
who are “twisting” the scriptures. The word is now being re defined to make it
acceptable. To make “truth” easier. To make “truth” more refined. To make “truth”
more attractive and more relevant today…
What is seen however, is what was once wrong is made right.
What was once bad behavior is made good behavior. What was once unlawful is
being made lawful.
All aspects of life whether politically, culturally,
morally, and even scripturally. All is being challenged. What was once
considered a “core value” is being attacked. What was once the bedrock of such
principles that defined this nation and its strength. Today we are being
pressured to compromise. What was once a foundational “truth” of the word of
GOD, now is being wrenched, twisted and turned to the point it goes
unrecognized. Until one day you wake up and its never seen as GOD intended it to
be.
I can point out the simplicity of what was once a boundary,
a line, a fence, a border to never be crossed. Well today is filled with
excuses and exceptions. Because there are those who are hard at work to erase every
possible boundary of protection and safety.
· What do you do with nation with no existing
boundary, no borders?
· What do you do with what was once a common
language? A language that defined the culture and what it knew was good?
· What do you do with a religious system that is
powerless in pulpit and pew?
· Do we stick our heads in the sand and tell
ourselves, we’re over reacting?
· Do we just come to the place that we openly deny
that such an attack is really going on?
· Or, do we take it as being too little too late,
it’s just the day were living in?
Have we have become desensitized to the place of accepting
it?
What do I mean? The borders of Europe have been challenged
and they are falling to evil and wicked regimes.
America is being challenged and while some are jailed and
imprisoned over nothing. There are others who have been blatant in their
boasts, and open disregard to the laws that be. And still yet, they go
unchallenged, and without punishment.
What about morally? The abortionist gets bolder along with
the anti-marriage crowds. Others continue to walk our streets with their hate
speech even attacking the president and family. These and others like them have
made inroads into the public schools and colleges of our nation and are setting
agendas to the hurt of our children.
The casinos, gambling, pornography, liquor, marijuana, the
tattoo parlors all seem to be the lucrative investment opportunities of the
day.
Amongst the religious lines, boundaries, and borders that
one time defined them for who they were and what they believed are eroding
faster and faster. Sin in today’s world is no longer seen as sin, and something
that GOD hate
There are no longer scriptures of thought and basis for what
is wrong or right. Again the “Ten Commandments” are being removed from the systems
of learning. The systems of religious thought are being “twisted” for only of
what is “tolerant,” and how devilish and sinful behavior can be made acceptable.
I borrow the words of one who said. “There be many good young men and women and seasoned saints that
feel cheated and betrayed. Some become angry. Others quietly carry a deep hurt
when they see the ungodly who openly flaunt their cool mockery of holiness and
righteous living, yet despite the unfaithfulness, continue unreproved.”
God forbid that we sleep in a day that demands our willingness
to confront this evil day. Let the church be seen as it always has been contending
for the one who is HOLY. And yes, for what HE has already defined for us as to what
HE is pleased and not pleased with.
God forbid that we stand by as those that are going about twisting
and turning GOD’S grace to that which is unrecognizable for their own gain.
As someone said, “all
it takes for evil to triumph is for a good men to do nothing”
I take it to where it really is. All it takes is for evil to triumph is the church to do nothing.
Don’t pray, don’t fast, don’t stand, don’t speak.
First they came for the socialists, and I
did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and
I did not speak out— because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not
speak out—because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one
left to speak for me.
Jude 3 Beloved, when I
gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you,
and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was
once delivered unto the saints.
4 For there are
certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this
condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness,
and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. KJV
