2 Peter 2:12: “But these men, like irrational animals, creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed, do not understand whom they are insulting, and consequently in their destruction they will be destroyed.”
I am trying to draw attention to how Peter is characterizing some people here: “like irrational animals.” I hope that is not me, and I hope that is not you.
“Irrational animals.” He says these people follow their animalistic instincts. They are “creatures of instinct.” Basically, Peter is saying, “Do not be like this. Do not be like them.” We need to watch out: how am I being instinctive? How am I just being steered along by emotion? How am I a slave to passions?
James wrote that the person who is tempted should not say he is tempted by God, but that each one is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desires (James 1:13–14). Am I a slave to desires—to animalistic desires? Am I being animalistic when it comes to sexuality, when it comes to violence? Do I think my only option is to take what belongs to others by force? Am I just focused on what I can eat, what I can drink—everything tied to this world?
Am I just following my basal instinct?
He says, “But these men, like irrational animals, creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed, do not understand.” Do I lack understanding? Am I pursuing understanding? Am I seeking understanding? Or am I just tied up in my emotions? Do I continually and repeatedly get tied up in the past? Do I just react instinctively?
When you look at the works of the flesh, when you follow your instinct, that is where it lands us. But rather, we are supposed to follow the Spirit. We are supposed to walk in the Spirit so that we will not fulfill the lust of the flesh. That is just the animal instinct, the basal instinct.
The only alternative that has been provided is for us to walk in the Spirit. Walk in the Spirit. There is no neutral zone. It is either we are actively, aggressively, pointedly walking in the Spirit, or we are fulfilling the lusts of the flesh. There is no other way. There is no neutral zone. There is no, “This is just me. This is just how I am.” That “this is just me, that is just my preference”—that is the animal instinct. “I cannot let go”—animal instinct.
We have been called to walk in the Spirit so that we will not carry out the works of the flesh and all those things Paul mentioned as being counter to the life God has called us to (Galatians 5:16–21). We have to walk in the Spirit.
And it starts with the Word of God. It starts with the truth of God’s Word, the light of God’s Word, not just in what we say, not just in what we do, but also in how we think. The psalmist said, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight” (Psalm 19:14). If the animalistic instinct has not hooked me in how I am feeling and how I am thinking, then I will not become like this.
Look at what God said before the judgment of the flood on the earth: “Every inclination of the thoughts of their minds was only evil all the time” (Genesis 6:5, in essence). What did that result in? “The earth was filled with violence” (Genesis 6:11).
Do not say you are different. Do not say, “Those people did not come from a good family; I come from a good family.” No. Do not think you are exempt. The only thing that will help is to walk in the Spirit so that you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
God bless you. See you later.