2 Peter 2:17-22

2 Peter 2:17-22
Contemporary English Version (CEV) 

  Let's imagine you have a friend who doesn't care for sports, but you convince them to come to a game with you to watch your favorite team.  After a while, they start to cheer for the same team, and pretty soon they are as wrapped up in it as you are.  You watch the games together, talk about them afterward, and you think they care as deeply as you do.
  Then it happens.  They slowly drift away, and pretty soon you hear them criticizing not only the team, but also you.  They make disparaging remarks and show open disdain for you and your team.  They mock you in all they do.
  It would hurt, right?  You'd feel betrayed, and you'd wish they had never come to the first game with you.  You blame yourself, but you also let that open wound fester, and you develop scorn for them.  It hurts more and more every day.
  So it goes with Peter and those who have abandoned the church.  They were a part of a movement, and then they left it behind, choosing the temporary glory of the world over the eternal weight of glory.  When faced with adversity, they opted to save their own skin rather than endure.
  If we view faith as a short-term exercise, we will also be tempted to bail when things get tough.  But if we remember the eternal time frame and all that is promised us by a God who always keeps his promises, we endure the short-term adversity together and put on the eternal glory that is promised to us.  It will not always be easy, but it's worth it.  Jesus promises us that.