Welcome back to "A Word from the Vine." I'm Pastor Loren. Today, I want to share an allegory with you that I think perfectly captures the human psychology of hurting others for no reason, other than to keep them from escaping personal hell.
Imagine a deep pit, filled with people who have the ability to escape, but for various reasons, don't. Some enjoy being in the pit, while others are afraid to try to escape. But one person decides to leave, and to his astonishment, those left in the pit become hell-bent on destroying him.
Sin is the root cause of this, but there is a greater intent to destroy at play. It's almost like the mindset of "misery loves company," but with a twist. The people in the pit are not only unwilling to leave, but they are militantly opposed to the idea of leaving, and they will even go so far as to hate and harm those who try to escape.
This allegory reminds me of the story of Jesus trying to rescue us from our sins, but instead of accepting his help, we hate him for it and even crucify him. It's a powerful reminder that sometimes doing what is right, and following in the footsteps of Jesus, can be met with fierce opposition and hatred.
In 2 Timothy 3, we are warned of the difficult times that will come, where people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, and abusive. But we are also reminded to hold onto the teachings we have learned and to continue in faith.
So my friends, let us remember to be like the one who escapes the pit, even when it means facing opposition and hatred. Let us hold onto our faith and continue to do what is right, even in the face of adversity.
Thank you for joining me today on "A Word from the Vine." May you be blessed and encouraged in your faith journey.
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