2 Peter 2:12

2 Peter 2:12 says, But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;  This is speaking about those who refuse to listen to God's word.  Peter compares them to brute beasts, such as mules or oxen.  Verse thirteen adds, And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;  Peter warns that those who refuse to acknowledge God's word and accept salvation through Christ will be rewarded for their unrighteousness.  God does not send people to hell, but He allows them to go there if they so choose.  Those who deny Christ deceive themselves and feast on, or misuse, those who are followers of Christ.  Verse fourteen continues, Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:  Peter lists some of the ways that the unrighteous act.  They are full of adultery and cannot stop sinning.  They beguile others who are unstable in their souls, or faith.  Some people attempt to live by faith and sight, not being willing to totally commit to Christ, and are easily deceived by those who would lead them to some other way to salvation.  Verse fifteen declares, Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;  There are really only two ways to live.  One is the right way by following Christ in faith, and the other is following the ways of the world.  Some will always choose the way of the world, even claiming to follow another god.  We must choose to follow Christ and call others to do so as well, with both our words and our actions.  Verse sixteen adds, But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet.  Peter was referring to when Balaam was told by God not to go speak to the king, but was going anyway, and his ass, or donkey, spoke to him to stop him.  Balaam was a prophet of God who was refusing to listen to God.  We are even dumber than the animals when we refuse to listen to God's word.  Verse seventeen continues, These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.  Those who oppose and teach others to oppose God are like wells without water or clouds blown in every direction by the wind.  They cannot offer any real relief or direction to life but are always walking in darkness.  God alone can bring us living water and everlasting light, and He does so through our acceptance of Christ.  Verse eighteen states, For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.  Those who deny God would tempt others with empty promises and the allure of the temptation of the flesh.  We who follow Christ can be cleansed from all unrighteousness that the world would tempt us with.  Verse nineteen adds, While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.  Even as the lost of the world claim to be free to do whatever they want to without being bound by God's law; they are servants of corruption.  We either serve God or we serve Satan.  If we refuse to follow God, we will always be under the bondage of sin.  Verse twenty continues, For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.  I don't believe that this refers to losing one's salvation but refers to those who temporarily follow the teachings of God but never accept Christ as their Savior and Lord.  It is even harder for such a person to then accept Christ.  Verse twenty-one proclaims, For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.  Peter tells us it is better to have never heard the gospel than to hear it and turn away from it.  This does not mean that we are not to share the gospel.  Verse twenty-two adds, But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.  Though this may not be a pretty picture, it is an accurate comparison to those who temporarily obey God's word and then turn away from it.  This can refer to those who only accept God's word intellectually for a while without ever accepting Christ as their Savior and Lord.  Still, even if our salvation is secure, we may find ourselves wallowing in the slop of the world if we do not keep God's word in our heart.