2 Peter 2:12-22 NKJV
12 But these, like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of the things they do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own corruption, 13 and will receive the wages of unrighteousness, as those who count it pleasure to carouse in the daytime. They are spots and blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you, 14 having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children. 15 They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; 16 but he was rebuked for his iniquity: a dumb donkey speaking with a man’s voice restrained the madness of the prophet.
17 These are wells without water, clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.
18 For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error. 19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage. 20 For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. 21 For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. 22 But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.”
The initial words of today’s reading, “But these,” refer to the unjust from the latter part of yesterday’s reading. And Peter teaches us that they “speak evil of the things they do not understand and will utterly perish in their own corruption…” Also, “they have forsaken the right way and gone astray…” They are “wells without water” and for them is reserved “the blackness of darkness forever.” What a terrible indictment upon the unjust – those who do not believe in Christ and despise the message of His suffering and death for all.
We should never rejoice in the destruction of the unjust, and we rightly shudder at this condemnation. We should also pray for those in darkness that they, by the grace and mercy of God, come to faith and avoid eternal death and damnation. And we may do so because before God called us to faith in His Son, we deserved the same end.
It is no secret that this world is becoming more and more evil daily. Years ago it seems the devil was more subtle. The slow and incremental advance of evil has now sped up like a rocket and is blatantly obvious. Constant attacks on Christianity not only marginalize but delegitimize any good said or done by Christians at all. We are now threats to society, and some are calling for our removal from society.
So be it. There is nothing new here, for Jesus spoke of these things over 2,000 years ago What is new, it seems, is the level of ferocity and intensity of the world’s rejection and hatred of God and Christianity.
So, what do we do? This is also nothing new, for we continue to avail ourselves of God’s gifts of His Word and Sacraments. These are delivered to us in the context of the Divine Service by and through our faithful pastor who has been given to us for this very reason. He is Christ’s mouth, ears, and hands to us, and has been charged by Christ to feed His flock with the certainty of sins paid for by His suffering, death, and resurrection, and the continuous deliverance of forgiveness and strength that we may endure. Let us pray: Lord Jesus, keep me in the one true faith by Your good and gracious gifts. Amen.