June 24: God rescues us

For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgment; and did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, with seven others, when He brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly; and if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction by reducing them to ashes, having made them an example to those who would live ungodly lives thereafter; and if He rescued righteous Lot, oppressed by the sensual conduct of unprincipled men (for by what he saw and heard that righteous man, while living among them, felt his righteous soul tormented day after day by their lawless deeds), then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment.   (2 Peter 2:4-9 — New King James Version)

Peter gives three examples as a means of proving a great truth about God: He knows how to rescue the godly, and to judge and punish the wicked. First we are told how God punished the angels in heaven who mounted a rebellion against Him. Next we are reminded of how a world of ungodly people were destroyed in the flood, while Noah and his family were singled out to be saved. Another impressive example of God's judgment were the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, and yet a handful of righteous people who lived there were saved.

Does it matter how many evil people are around you today? Does it matter that you are outnumbered, or that only a fraction of people seem to honor and obey God these days? No it doesn’t. God's judgment is coming, and any delay only reflects God’s desire to give people time to repent. No evil person will slip through His hands — everyone will receive what they deserve.

At the same time, God knows who belongs to Him. He personally knows about you and your faithfulness, and will keep you safe from the effects of modern society and from the temptation of the devil. God will never leave or forsake you. Just as He was able to reach into the terrible cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and rescue a small group of people that belonged to Him, He will rescue and save you also.

Peter says that God knows how to rescue the godly from temptation — the keyword here is “godly”. God does not rescue everyone from temptation, as is clearly evident by the world around us. Most people cave in to it as soon as it comes, without any hint at resistance. But the godly are different. They have God’s nature, and refuse to live like everyone else. They crave God’s goodness, and a life of purity. When they remember their old life and behavior they feel embarrassed. And so God helps them with temptation because they’re making an effort to please him.

If temptation is irresistible, that’s a sign that you’ve drifted away from God, or were never close in the first place. Start your change by making steps in His direction, and fighting the temptation, and soon you’ll feel God’s help kick in.