WILLING IGNORANCE

"For this they willingly are ignorant of . . . " (KJV).

The KJV is more precise on this verse. Other translations say, "it escapes their notice" (NASB), "willingly forget" (NKJV), "deliberately ignore this fact" (RSV), and "deliberately forget" (NIV). Literally, the phrase is translated "for this escapes them being willing." The emphasis is WILLING, not ignorant! That is, the character of the challengers is the point, not merely what it has yielded. They do not consider the truth because they do not WANT to! Their state of ignorance is self-imposed. The truth has flown by them, because there was no place in their heart or mind to receive it. Their hearts were incapable of receiving the truth because of their own choice and preference. As clear and necessary as the truth of Christ's return is to a believer, it cannot wedge itself into the heart of unwilling personalities.

This is another way of saying God has hidden the truth of His Son's return from them. Jesus Himself declared this to be a Divine attribute. "I thank Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in Thy sight" (Matt 11:25-26). While, therefore, the unwillingness of these false prophets is self-imposed, it is not ONLY self-imposed. God Almighty has ratified their unreasonable choice by veiling the truth of His Son's return to them.

The condition of these corrupting teachers has permeated their doctrine. They do not declare the coming of the Lord because it does not fit into their dogma. Theirs is a religion without power, anchored firmly to the passing order. If people receive their teaching, they will not find it in their hearts to consider the coming of the Lord. The weighty words of Jesus Himself on this matter will be brushed aside as though they were meaningless. The solemn teachings of the Epistles on this matter will be viewed as superfluous, and unrelated to the Christian life.

Peter is dealing with the root of the matter–going straight to the heart of the issue. Do not look at the stated objective of false teachers to confirm his words are true. Rather, listen to the trend of their doctrines--the direction of their teaching---and behold their influence upon those who receive them. If their teachings yield the fruit of a worldly life and mind-set, moving men to imagine they can live as though Jesus could not return in their lifetime, they are "scoffers." The purveyors of such dogma are the very ones of whom Peter has warned.

PRAYER POINT: Father, lead us not into temptation, but deliver is from the evil one, in Jesus' name.

--MONDAY: New Series, RESISTING THE DEVIL --