“These are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm. For them the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved. For, speaking loud boasts of folly, they entice by sensual passions of the flesh those who are barely escaping from those who live in error. They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.” (2 Peter 2:17-19 ESV)
Water is essential for life. During seasons of drought your lawn turns brown, and crops will not grow. While humans may be able to survive weeks without food, most would die after going without water for five days.
What is true of us physically reminds us of things that are true about us spiritually. King David describes it this way: “My soul thirsts for You; my flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water.” (Psalm 63:1) This world of sin and guilt, disease and death, is a dry and thirsty land. Our souls thirst for refreshment, for peace and hope.
Peter draws on this picture as he writes of false teachers in 2 Peter 2. He calls false teachers “waterless springs and mists driven by a storm.” (verse 17) False teachers have “loud boasts” (verse 18) of being able to give your soul what it desires, to quench the thirst of your soul.
It has been this way since the beginning. The “father of lies” (John 8:44 NIV) (the devil) promised our first parents that they were missing out on something and could “be like God” (Genesis 3:5) if they took of the forbidden fruit and ate. Adam and Eve indulged the desire of their flesh, but all they found was death, guilt, and shame. It was a waterless spring, a dry well.
So too with all false teachers. They add something to Scripture or leave something out of Scripture with the promise of quenching the thirst of your soul. Some false teachers encourage thirsty souls to embrace the desires of their flesh, rather than denying themselves, taking up the cross, and following Jesus. “Your desires are an expression of who you are,” they may say. They may even go so far as to say, “This is how God made you. God wants you to be happy, so embrace and celebrate who you are.”
However, rather than quenching spiritual thirst, these souls become enslaved. Peter writes of false teachers, “They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.” (verse 19) No wonder Jesus tells us to “beware of false prophets,” (Matthew 7:15) and Paul tells us to “avoid them.” (Romans 16:17) They are dry wells.
Rather than being lured by the smooth words and flattering speech of false teachers, God tells you where your thirsty soul will be quenched. Jesus says, “Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst.” (John 4:14) Jesus alone can quench your spiritual thirst. Only His death on the cross forgives your sins. Only His resurrection from the dead assures you that you are at peace with God.
Do not be enticed by the empty promises of false teachers. Instead, Jesus says, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:31-32) Keep “drinking Jesus up” through His Word and Sacrament in this dry and thirsty land. “And the Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let him who hears say, ‘Come!’ And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.” (Revelation 22:17)
is pastor of Berea Lutheran Church in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota.