A Dog Returns to Its Own Vomit

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A Dog  Returns  to Its Own Vomit

There are some very sad,  heart-wrenching,  and disgusting things  in this world.     We might want  to holler out,  “No!    No!   Don’t do that!”     But,  it wouldn’t do any good.     People are bent  on doing their own thing — to their own eternal destruction.     They are bound and determined  to go their own way  on a slippery path  to hell.

Solomon said it first  in Proverbs 26:11,

Like a dog  that returns  to its vomit
Is a fool  who repeats  his folly.

Then the apostle Peter  brought up  that same proverb  by writing  about false preachers  and the people  who so willingly  follow them  in 2 Peter 2:20-22,

For  if after  they have escaped  the defilements  of the world  by the knowledge  of the Lord  and Savior Jesus Christ,  they are again entangled  in them  and are overcome,  the last state  has become worse  for them  than the first.

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  delivered to them.

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.”

Peter sees  the grossly  horrible  thing  of people  knowing about forgiveness  and eternal salvation  in Christ Jesus — and even living  a Christian life  for awhile — but then  turning away  from God  and going back  to their senseless  and damnable sins.     Those sins are  of all sorts — cheating,  lying,  haters  of good,  blaspheming,  adultery  and sexual sins  of all sorts,  greed,  slandering,  mocking God,  and plain ol’ unbelief.

The horrible part  of knowing God’s salvation  in Christ Jesus  and then,  turning away from it  to wallow  in a sinful lifestyle  is that  “the last state  has become worse  for them  than the first.”     In other words,  we are all sinners  in total need  of Christ’s forgiveness  and salvation.     But,  if we turn away  from our sinful life  and turn to Christ Jesus,  but then  turn again  to reject Jesus,  Hebrews 6:4-6 says,

For  in the case  of those  who have once been enlightened  and have tasted  of the heavenly gift  and have been made partakers  of the Holy Spirit,  and have tasted  the good word  of God  and the powers  of the age  to come,  and then have fallen away,  it is impossible  to renew them again  to repentance,  since they again crucify  to themselves  the Son  of God,  and put Him  to open shame.

Thankfully,  the writer of Hebrews later adds that he is “convinced of better things concerning you,  and things  that accompany salvation,  though we are speaking in this way.”     To foolishly reject God  after experiencing His blessings  is exchanging the truth  for a lie.     That’s grossly sick.     But, lest our conscience be confused,  we need to realize that 2 Timothy 2:11-13  explains,

It is a trustworthy statement:
For if we died  with Him,  we shall also live with Him;
If we endure,  we shall also reign  with Him;
If we deny Him,  He also will deny us;
If we are faithless,  He remains faithful;
for He cannot deny Himself.

There is a great difference between  “denying” Jesus  and being  “faithless”  in a circumstance.     Jesus is  faithfully looking  to save each and every one of us,  even though we have sinned  and sin every day.     But,  if we willfully  and belligerently  “deny”  that He alone  is our Savior,  Lord,  and God,  His righteousness  and justice  puts Him in the position  of having to “deny us”.

We might be faithless  to Jesus,  but He will always be faithful  to us.     As we praise His awesome faithfulness,  we say,  “Hallelujah!     Lord Jesus,  thank You  for Your mercy  and sacrificial love.”

Love,
Margaret

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A Christian devotional  to glorify  the LORD of lords  and GOD of gods.

A 2.67 year old says  I Pledge Allegiance

Pray for our country.

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… Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus …

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Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus by the Yupiq Eskimo village of Quinhagak, Alaska

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The LORD  made this day, let us rejoice  and be glad  in Him.

Psalm 118:24

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The word of the LORD is tried;

He is a shield  to all  who take refuge  in Him.

Psalm 18:30

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Sing for joy  in the LORD,  O you righteous ones;

Praise is becoming  to the upright.

Psalm 33:1

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How blessed are those  who dwell  in Thy house!

They are ever praising Thee.

Psalm 84:4

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Just as a father  has compassion  on his children,

So the LORD  has compassion  on those who fear Him.

Psalm 103:13

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O give thanks  to the LORD,  for He is good;

For His lovingkindness  is everlasting.

Psalm 107:1

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Glory in His holy name;

Let the heart  of those who seek the LORD  be glad.

Psalm 105:3

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Not that I have already obtained it,  or have already  become perfect, but I press on  in order that  I may  lay hold  of that for which also  I was laid hold of  by Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:12

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