Thoughts on Discipleship by Dr. W. A. Dillard - HTML preview

USTA WASERS

Sobering insight is given to those with hearing ears in 2 Peter 2:20-21, “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. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.” Anyway, one may stack it up, it is a most serious thing to turn away from the truth presented in the Holy Word after having received and understood it.

Still, the world of ustawasers sees no decline in population. It is appalling to note that most cults report the major number of proselytes they make come from a Baptist background. Once I had some legal work completed by a rotund, jolly fellow who upon learning of my religious standing roared, “I used to be a Baptist!” Curiously, I asked what he was now. He replied, “Now, I am a------ --. I used to worry about living correctly, but now I don’t have to do that anymore. I let my priest take care of that.” Believe it or not, he was serious!

Having conducted more revival meetings than most ministers in a time when such was popular, I have personally witnessed to numerous wayward, backslidden and truth rejecting people who gave an intelligent testimony of their personal salvation, but whose common chorus was “I usta.” Sadly, they usta be a Baptist, or they usta be a faithful church member; they usta read the Bible, engage in private prayer, etc. What a choir they would make, all singing “I usta!”

What happens to folks that causes them to become usta-wasers? Perhaps they never did achieve a good comprehension of the faith once delivered to the saints. Regardless, once exposed to the ultimate truth of the Bible, they succumb to the temptation to follow the ways of men out of desire, or out of escape mode from ridicule. The amazing thing about most of them is that they tout their former state with seeming pride. “O, yes, I usta be…..” They have forgotten, perhaps wilfully, that we must ALL stand before the Creator God of the universe and give an account of ALL the deeds done in the body whether they be good or bad. To me that is most sobering! There will be no acceptable explanation for having turned from the Holy Commandment delivered from God Himself to us for our belief, understanding, and code of conduct. The only usta-waser I want to be noted for is that I usta be a subject for a devil’s hell, but Jesus saved me by grace through faith, and praise His name, I am not that anymore! I hope it is true for you, dear reader, as well!

FOR THOUGHT: How many usta-wasers do you know? Do you have enough fingers and toes to count them? What do you think lies ahead for usta-wasers when they meet Jesus? Do you perceive the spirit of a usta-waser creeping into your life? If so, what will you do about it?