Stockton Baptist Church
Body
VOMIT. A couple of years ago, one of our missionaries was staying with us. On Sunday morning as we were almost ready to leave for church, Mo, our dachshund, was outside and somehow caught a youngrabbitandhadeaten its guts. After letting him in the door, he proceeded to give back his 'meal,' and man was it beyond rank. 2 Peter 2:22 says, 'But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: 'A dog returns to his own vomit,' and, 'a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.'' This verse paints a vivid picture of a dog's instinctive behavior. Though revolting to us, dogs have no filters to keep them from going back and re-snarfing what had just recently made them vomit. It's just their nature. The nature of pigs, though different, is yet the same in that they do according to their nature. However, Peter's focus is on something other than dogs or pigs. His focus is humanity. Peter is pointing out the truth that we humans also have a nature that, for many, gets 'cleaned up' and stops consuming the old 'vomit' and 'wallowing' in the same old pigpen. Many people 'get religion' and 'turn over a new leaf.' However, without genuinely changing their inner nature, they generally return to the pile of 'vomit' or to 'wallowing in the mud.' You can teach old dogs new tricks, and you can even train pigs, but you can't change their inner nature. However, God can change our inner nature to desire holiness. And when the soul is changed, the whole life is changed. This is why Paul told the believers in Corinth, 'Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new' (2 Cor. 5:17). Do you need power over drugs, alcohol, immorality, lying, pride, hate, anger, bitterness, a filthy mouth, etc.? No matter the 'vomit,' Jesus can change your inner nature and make all things new in your life. And 'If the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed' (John 8:36).
