DCLM Daily Manna 24 April 2026: Danger of Falling Back
KEY VERSE: “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” (2 Peter 2:20).
TEXT: 2 Peter 2:11-22 (KJV)
11 yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not heap abuse on such beings when bringing judgment on them from the Lord. 12 But these people blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like unreasoning animals, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like animals they too will perish.
13 They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you. 14 With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning; they seduce the unstable; they are experts in greed—an accursed brood! 15 They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Bezer, who loved the wages of wickedness. 16 But he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey—an animal without speech—who spoke with a human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.
17 These people are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them. 18 For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of the flesh, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error. 19 They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.” 20 If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. 21 It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. 22 Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,”[d] and, “A sow that is washed returns to her wallowing in the mud.”
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The Telegraph of 22 August 2020 ran a story titled, Rare Snake to be Reintroduced Across England. It was reported that a rare snake was set to be reintroduced into parts of Britain. The head of Natural England warned that climate change meant the snakes had to be spread across the country in order to survive. The smooth snake is so rare and secretive that experts have no approximate idea of the surviving numbers. Some experts believe that reintroducing the snakes, while a noble goal, can be risky with potential downsides, including harming native species, introducing diseases, and disrupting the ecosystems.
Apostle Peter, in today’s text, warns of the danger of reintroducing sin and other damnable practices into a person’s life. The warning is primarily to believers, who, having been saved, are now enticed by the lure of carnality and worldly treasures. While “The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations”, He also has the power to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished. This is contrary to modern day preachers of eternal security, who teach that once someone is saved, he is always saved. Peter contradicted this false doctrine by his remarks about the “natural brute beasts” speaking “evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption”. Like Baalam of old, preachers of false doctrine deceive their hearers into continuing in sin under the guise that grace covers all sins, and that once the sinner has confessed Christ, he can never lose his salvation.
There is a difference between backsliding, a careless and unguarded slip into sin and apostasy, which is a deliberate departure from the faith. Those who accidentally fall into sin can be redeemed, but apostates cannot. Such souls will end up in hell, prepared for the devil and those who align with him. Paul the apostle also warned, in his inspired writing, that if any man draws back, the Lord shall have no pleasure in him. Make sure that you remain in the company of true believers: never turning back but believing until the final saving of the soul.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
To return to sins once forsaken is to avow your weakness of soul and body
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalm 120-130
DCLM Daily Manna 24 April 2026
