“Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward” (2 John 1:8).
TEXT — 2 John 1:8-9
Message
In the 1920s, Scotsman con man Arthur Ferguson sold various famous landmarks in London, including Nelson’s column, Big Ben, and Buckingham Palace, to unsuspecting Americans for large sums of money. He even managed to add the Eiffel Tower and the Statue of Liberty to his list of fraudulent “sales.” Ferguson’s remarkable selling ability allowed him to deceive multiple people before justice eventually caught up with him, leading to several years of imprisonment for his deceptions. Despite his criminal actions, Ferguson’s audacious scams and ability to persuade others remain a fascinating and unbelievable part of his story.
Apostle John emphasises the necessity of truth and obedience in every professed Christian. He counsels those who have known the truth to be vigilant in guarding against deception, warning them not to lose what they have worked for but to receive a full reward. He also cautions against straying from the truth of the gospel and the need for steadfastness in the face of false teachings. Essentially, Apostle John reminds believers that anyone who goes beyond the teachings of Christ does not have God.
The current era is characterised by a variety of spiritual beliefs and unconventional doctrines under the guise of religious relativism. Truth is often viewed as subjective and individual rather than universal and absolute. This aligns with Apostle Paul’s warning about the latter times when some will stray from the faith and follow seductive spirits and false teachings. Despite this, believers are encouraged to hold fast to the objective truth of God’s word by discerning and evaluating all teachings against the Scripture’s standard.
We must refuse to be swayed by popular opinions, reigning fads of the time, cultural trends, oppositions, falsehood, rat race, and deception of the present times. Thus, believers must remain committed to the foundational truths of the faith and reject any teaching that deviates from them. It is our responsibility as believers to counter falsehood with the truth by ensuring that the gospel spreads at a faster speed than before. We must make deliberate effort to intercede and preach the true gospel, which can deliver those who are already enticed into error and falsehood.
Thought for the day
There is no middle ground, once it is not true, it is false.
Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer. His revolutionary Bible teaching on personal holiness and commitment to evangelism soon gained so much traction and resulted in a widespread revival.
