PAVLOV’S DOGS

Pavlov’s dogs were fed by people wearing white coats; the dogs would salivate profusely when they seen anyone in a white coat, unable to discern their real feeders from the other white coats. Theological illiterates, what Peter called “the unstable and the unlearned” likewise lack discernment, unable to distinguish between truth, half-truth and totally false doctrine. Our enemy, the power of earthly darkness, barters in half-truths which so easily satisfy the desires of our nature, Self, we simply want to believe they are true. Lacking the clarity and discernment which diligent study of God’s word provides, it is an easy slide into believing half-truths... and half-truths are, after all... half-false! We live in “windy” times: The world of religion is adrift with religious “white coats” hawking spiritual dribble to pacify and sooth these “itching ears”, itching from misplaced desires... the pleasures of life. Only through proper, diligent, committed study of God’s word can we escape our own gullibility, crucify our wrong desires, and increase in true knowledge of God.

Hear the words of the Apostle taken from the Amplified Bible: “Therefore, my dear ones... work out – cultivate, carry out to the goal, and fully complete – your own salvation with reverence and awe and trembling Self-distrust, with serious caution, tenderness of conscience, watchfulness against temptation, timidly shrinking from whatever might offend God and discredit the name of Christ... Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved and tested by trial, a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing, accurately dividing, rightly handling, and skillfully teaching the Word of Truth.” This is an accurate description of God’s expectations for His children: That we would be “workman” eagerly and reverently pursuing God through the diligent study of His word, working out our salvation with the natural fear and trembling that accompanies the most important activity of our life... a matter of eternal life and death. And yes, it takes work! Many in God’s church have not worked out their own salvation through diligent study of God’s Word. Like ‘fat babies” addicted to milk they are unable to ingest solid food… “unskilled in the word of righteousness” and unable “to discern both good and evil.” Lacking the scriptural foundation for discernment, like Pavlov’s dogs they respond to anything that remotely resembles spiritual food, regardless of the source, salivating profusely at each new Bless Me sound-bit. My brethren, these things ought not to be so!

THE PATHWAY TO STAYING SAVED

IS LITTERED WITH THE CORPSES OF MANY

TOO BUSY OR TOO LAZY TO WORK OUT THEIR OWN SALVATION

(Phil. 2; 12-13; 2 Tim. 2:15; Heb. 5:12-14)