These people are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them.
Summary: The Church, sadly, is not perfect. False teachers have caused confusion and division. Even so, the church is still loved by Jesus, and judgment waits patiently for those who dare mislead the Lord’s bride.
I was talking with a friend the other day who is spiritually adrift. He had been raised in a faith tradition that was not Christian but claims similar roots. A year or so ago, he became disenchanted and abandoned the faith he was raised with.
At this point, he is skeptical of any faith claims. I can understand! Like him, I have been where he is. Looking back over the history of Christianity, there are a lot of black marks and divisions. It is easy to pick one and use it to justify claiming all forms of Christianity are bogus.
How did this come to be?
Peter has been telling us the answer to this question: false teachers. Every division in the church, every argument, every questionable act throughout history has had its origin in false teaching. If every person who ever called themselves a Christian followed the teachings of Jesus, there would be no divisions.
Think about that for a moment.
Imagine a world where Christ-followers actually followed Christ. Imagine two thousand years of church history marked by complete unity. One church, one God. Think about what kind of testimony such a church would have in the world. Who could resist it?
Aye, there’s the rub, as they say in the pirate movies.
Like pirates, false teachers have come into the church and stolen away its unity. Just like a pirate, the false teachers have climbed the rigging by stealth and wormed their way into the ship. With a pirate’s lust for gold, false teachers have commandeered the ship itself, steering it off course.
The Bride of Christ is the Church (John 3:29). Satan, the father of lies, has deceived many. His efforts have confused and discouraged many. The bride has been dirtied, but the Lord has been faithful to watch over her. The bride will be cleaned up when the time comes and prepared for the wedding (Revelation 19:7).
And what about those who have caused division in the church? What about the false teachers that have confused the faithful? Peter calls them “springs without water.” They are nothing. Jesus is the Living Water (John 4:7-15)! A spring without water is nothing more than a false promise.
Peter also calls them, “mists driven by a storm.” Sounds like another way of saying “nothing.” The King James Version uses the word “clouds” instead of “mist.” A cloud looks like it has substance. A dark cloud can look menacing. Yet when a cloud settles on the earth, it is called “fog.” A fog is a “mist” that dampens what it touches and obscures vision. People sometimes get lost in the fog.
Does God have a plan for people who have sullied his Son’s bride? Yes, he does. “Blackest darkness is reserved for them.” If there is a dark corner of hell, that is reserved for those who mislead the Lord’s church.
Application: There is comfort in knowing that God’s justice does not rest. There is also a warning in Peter’s words.
Food for Thought: How do you recognize a person who is a “spring without water?”
Jesus answered this very question. Matthew 7: 15 – 23.
Thank you, Rich!
I added a link. That is a great passage!
Well, Rich really nailed it with Matthew 7: 15 – 23! I also thought about how false teachers offer promises that they cannot keep. Like the promise of water to a thirsty person, the false teachers tell them they can provide water, but are a “spring without water.” It also reminded me of Proverbs 25:14 “Like clouds and wind without rain is a man who boasts of a gift he does not give.”
Thank Chris!
That is a great point. Christ is the Living Water. We are the signposts that point to the source of the Water.
Like clouds and wind without rain….
It looks for the purpose.
The purpose of clouds and wind are to carry rain to different parts of the earth.
The purpose of a gift is to be given and received.
The purpose of teaching is to impart knowledge, wisdom, and truth.
I suppose you could carry that thought into the Matthew 7 passage, too.
The purpose of the tree is to bear good fruit… Or is the purpose of the fruit to reveal what is in the tree?
What is the purpose of calling on the Lord if there is no intention of following/serving/seeking Him? Will He answer you to have you go back to ignoring His commands?
Back to Jeff’s question, when the false teacher steps off of his soap box, what does he do? Does it line up with scripture? Does his actions even reflect his own teachings? Or is it preach good sounding things and live however they like?
A-
Your comparison of stated purpose and actual function is thought provoking. There are so many examples of this in our world today that it is beyond count. We are challenged to see with our eyes and hear with our ears and think and decide for ourselves what is true. (Isaiah 6:10)
In my experience, we humans are predisposed to “get along.” Most of us do not like challenging others. (Some do.) When we see a person’s behavior does not match their rhetoric, it is a lot of work to put together the evidence to challenge their behavior in the public square.
Sorry … I’m rambling. Thank you for sharing!
Rich has a great passage for our reading.
11-18-2021, 2 Peter 2:17, How do you recognize a person who is a “spring without water?”
As new believers we could be taken in by a warm handshake, smile and lots of Bible talk over our heads but appealing to our flesh. In time, with Bible studies and prayer we experience an awakening of our spirit and begin to grow. I experienced this with the first church I attended, and in time I had to move on. I spoke with the man who had gotten me into BSF and discipled me, who agreed I should make a move. I asked him why he stayed and he said it was for people like me. He saw his role as light in the darkness and felt God wanted him to continue quietly ministering to others in this church. He was where God wanted him.
The closer we get to God, the more we desire His presence in all we do. There is no substitute for the Holy Spirit who satisfies our thirst, allowing us to grow spiritually, healthy and remain faithful to Him.
The Holy Spirit is our filter and He will help us know when we are in the presence of a Spirit Filled teacher of God’s truths or one by title only.
Ron,
You share an interesting story. Sometimes we wonder why are where we are. As you point out, the Lord has work that needs to be done everywhere. Thank you!
Yes Jeff, he was a neat , interesting man. He never bad mouthed the church, he simply kept his eyes open to new people, carried his Bible, spoke with them about our God in the Bible, always pointing to the Bible as his source, even opening it up and letting them read a verse. He let them make their own decisions regarding their walk with God..