II Peter 2: 17-22
These are springs without water and mists driven by a storm, for whom the black darkness has been reserved.
A spring is supposed to have water; if it doesn't, it's deceptive, it's a lie. And a mist that comes in with a storm will not be beneficial, but destructive.
For speaking out arrogant words of vanity
They think they're so smart, but their words have no good purpose.
they entice by fleshly desires, by sensuality,
They woo you in with promises of wealth and popularity and physical pleasures.
those who barely escape from the ones who live in error,
Whenever anyone does get out of their clutches, it's "by the skin of their teeth."
promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption;
How can a slave give freedom to someone else? True freedom is the ability to do what is right, not to do whatever he wants.
for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved.
Whatever we give ourselves to, it becomes our master, whether it is sinfulness or the Lord.
For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
If they learn about the good ways of thinking and acting according to the Truth.
they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first.
In Matthew 12:43-45 and Luke 11:24-26 Jesus talks about a man who cleans himself up, as someone would when they see how godly people are blessed. But if that person didn't come to Christ in repentance, and let Him clean him up, it won't last.
I found that it was a downward spiral, every time I tried to "do better" I ended up doing worse. I didn't realize it at the time, but my own life illustrated the Truth of what Jesus taught here, and what Peter is also writing about.
For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them.
This is the "downward spiral" of the ups and downs of self-improvement.
It has happened to them according to the true proverb, "A dog returns to its own vomit," and "A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire."
When someone has a bad habit that has been going on in his life for a while, it takes effort to get out of it, and when he gets tired of all the effort, he just slides back into the familiar rut.
Only the power of God's Holy Spirit in us can break those cycles. These false teachers evidently do not have His Spirit to do this, but they still draw the crowds, so they just go on preaching their deceptive seductions.
As God's children, we must avoid these "empty springs" and not get suckered in to their deceptions that promise this World's goods and pleasures.
Don't think you can play around with these ideas, to get some temporal benefits. God does bless those who follow His ways, but He will not bless anything that veers off from His righteousness. Don't cut corners, or take any kind of short-cut. This World will one Day be burned up, and we will suffer the loss of eternal pleasures if we do.
We are to run away from temptation, not see how close we can get to the edge. If God blesses you with finances, it is so you can use that money to further His Kingdom. If He does not give you money, but you have other abilities and skills, then use them to serve God by helping others.
But in any case, avoid these deceptive teachers who only want to use you to increase their own bottom lines. They're not worth it.
O my Father, please strengthen Your children, give us discernment to see who is teaching lies and who is true to Your Truth. Father, help us to not desire Earthly riches for our own benefit, but to use all the benefits You have given us, for just our needs, and the rest to help others, in Your Name.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
