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The Book of
2nd Peter: Message Forty Three
By Dr. Michael Guido, D.D.
A mother asked her
boy, "What did you learn in Sunday School?"
"Well," answered the eight year old, "our teacher
told us about the time God sent Moses behind the enemy lines to
rescue the Israelites from the Egyptians. When they came to the Red
Sea, Moses called for the engineers to build a bridge. After they
had all crossed, they all looked back and saw the Egyptians' tanks
coming. Moses radioed headquarters on his walkie-talkie to send
bombers to blow up the bridge, and he saved the Israelites."
"Bobby," exclaimed his mother, "is that really the
way your teacher told you that story?" "Not exactly,"
admitted Bobby, "but if I told it her way, you'd never believe
it." There are many just like that boy. They take away the
supernatural from the Scriptures and the wonder-works from the Word
of God. They wrest the word to their own destruction. Peter speaks
of them in his epistle. They're described in 2nd Peter
3:16 and 17 as "unlearned," "unstable," and
"unsteadfast."
Meet the "unlearned."
They're as numberless as the sands of the seashore or the stars of
the sky. It was Sunday morning in a famous church school. A member
said to the teacher, "Please tell me how far in actual miles
Dan is from Beersheba." Before the teacher could answer,
another member arose and said, "Do I understand that Dan and
Beersheba are names of places? I always thought they were husband
and wife, like Sodom and Gomorrah." Can it be that you're one
of the "unlearned"? Then start learning the Scriptures.
How? By studying them. You're converted by the Scriptures. The Bible
says, "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of
incorruptible, by the word of God that liveth and abideth for
ever." You're cleansed by the Scriptures. The Bible says,
"Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his his way? By taking
heed thereto according to Thy word." You're kept by the
Scriptures. The Bible says, "Thy word have I hid in my heart,
that I might not sin against Thee." Therefore you must learn
the Scriptures. How? By studying. Martin Luther said he studied his
Bible as he gathered apples. First, he shook the whole tree, that
the ripest apples might fall. Then he shook each limb, and then he
shook every branch, and then every twig. What did he mean? Search
the Bible as a whole. Read it from cover to cover. Then shake every
limb. Study each book of the Bible. Then shake every branch. Become
acquainted with every chapter of the Bible. Then shake every twig.
Mark the verses that appeal to you, then memorize them. Master them
until they master you. Just now make up your mind that you'll read a
portion of the Bible every day until you go home to heaven. Commit
it to your heart, submit your heart to it, and by all means transmit
it to other hearts.
Let's meet the
"unstable." Who are they? The folk with no fixed purpose.
They're driven by every wind and wave that comes their way.
"Oh," you say, "that's my trouble. How can I overcome
it?" Some time ago we went fishing. A storm arose. So we cast
anchor to fix the boat, and we weren't driven by the storm. In like
manner, anchor your soul in the Scriptures. Or, let me put it like
this. I went to the swamp and got a dogwood tree. I planted it in
our yard. The other day, when I knew a storm was coming, I was
afraid it would be twisted by the tempest. So I put a strong pole
beside it, and tied it to it. It wasn't broken or bent. Would you
remain firm and fixed? Tie yourself to the word of God.
Let's meet the "unsteadfast."
It's written in 2nd Peter 3:17, "Beware lest ye
also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your
own stedfastness." The stedfast are those who are firmly fixed
in faith. Are you? You're not? Then beware. Go not in the way of the
wicked. Psychologists say that if you put a frog in a pail of hot
water, he'll jump out of it. But if you put him in a pail of cool
water and gradually heat it, the frog will stay in it and allow
himself to be cooked. Likewise, when sudden, but awfully sinful
temptations rear their ugly heads, you shrink from them. But the
thing that causes you to stray and sin is that day-by-day drifting,
that day-by-day going along with the gang. Your best protection is
to get out of the pot when the water begins to get warm. The poet
wisely says:
"Shun evil companions, bad
language disdain;
God's name hold in reverence, nor
take it in vain;
Be thoughtful and earnest,
kindhearted and true,
Look ever to Jesus, He'll carry
you through."
copyright 2000 Guido
Evangelistic Association
All Scripture
verses are quoted from the New King James Version..
Click here to go to the next Scripture Study on the book of Second
Peter from the Sower.
This series of
messages on the Books of the Bible were originally
written for broadcast on Dr. Guido's radio program,
"The Sower." They are collected and
reprinted here for your enjoyment and spiritual
edification.
