So, let us consider, for a moment, the patience of error.

What sparked my mind today about this topic was doing some tasks at work in the world of right of way.
In my secular occupation, I am an electrical engineer for an electric utility. One of my job functions is to supervise, inspect, plan, and schedule the right of way (area around power lines) to be cut (have the vegetation pruned back) and later sprayed (by chemical treatment). During this time of year, the chemical
spraying is in full swing, and periodically, I must inspect the work to ensure that it is being done in a timely, responsible, and efficient fashion. One of the things I am looking for is how high the kill rate of the vegetation is from the application. Did they meet, exceed, or fail the contractual requirements?

However, I cannot verify that they have done anything at all by going out the day after they have sprayed. In fact, after one week, I may be able to barely tell that they were there. After two weeks, I can get a pretty good idea of how well they did, and finally, after three or four weeks, it is obvious if they met or failed the required kill rate. When false doctrines come in or fuzzy ideas begin to be circulated, we may not be able to tell right away what the damage is. But, given time, the error will show forth itself in uglier and uglier tones. Paul warns Timothy about two men (by name) that were propagating a false doctrine that eats as a canker. Cankerous things do not have an immediate termination of the host (like cancer to a body), but over time, their effects show to be more and more devastating.

When I do go out to inspect the kill rate, the effects after a few weeks look yellowish in nature.  The sickliness of the plant is starting to become evident, but after another week, the vegetation will go from yellow to brownish in hue to show forth the far-reaching aspects of the poison. Finally, the plant will go completely black showing total lack of life-functioning within the stems and leaves. So, the longer the time, the uglier the effect. We may wonder from time to time, "Well, what does it hurt?" Given time, we may find out that the answer is, "Plenty."

But, just to mention in passing, if we must resort to asking, "What does it hurt?" the likelihood is great
that it is problematic. Rather, the question should be, "What does it help?"

Notice also that Paul declared the false doctrine to "overthrow the faith of some." While it did not overthrow all that heard it, the teaching did affect some. Sometimes when inspecting the right of way spraying, I will come across a single plant or two in the middle of a stretch of dead vegetation and wonder, "How did that not die?" Sometimes, those that are inundated in an atmosphere of false theology can appear to survive while the rest were overthrown, but it is very rare. Also, given time, one of those plants that did not die generally shows abnormalities in its growth from the traces of the poison that did get in the plant. Those that come through some of the false theologies of the world can, from time to time, bring in "luggage from the outside with them."

Let us also notice particularly what the false teaching that Paul mentioned was, even though these thoughts can apply to all false teachings. The error being propagated was that the resurrection is already passed. Listen somewhat casually today, and you will hear the same error being spun in a different light.  Today, people ask, "Are you ready?" If you reply, "Ready for what?" They will say, "To get right or get left." What they mean is: get right with God or get left behind. First of all, no man can get himself right with God. Either Christ did for them or He did not. Either way, the circumstance of that man is never going to change. Secondly, if someone gets left behind, and they have others to talk to, what could be one of the messages they hear declared? Well, the rapture has come, we are left behind, and the resurrection is already passed! Dear friends, the error today is the same that Paul dealt with!

Look at the cankerous effect that it has had among the "Christian world." Anyone not holding to the teaching is considered abnormal and perhaps, "Not as ready for the rapture as we thought." These things when first preached may sound strange and different, but given time, they kill and destroy. These ideas rob from the glory of God and seek to destroy the foundations of Scriptural principles. But dear friends, are you not thankful that Paul leaves no room for doubt about the final state of affairs in all things?

The very next verse starts with "Nevertheless." Thank God for such transitions in Scripture. The foundation of God (Jesus Christ the Rock of our salvation) standeth sure. He will never be shaken or destroyed, and He still knoweth them that are His. Thank God that we are preserved in Him. While we may swallow the poison of false doctrine, while our faith may be overthrown, while we may be cast down 1,000 times, because of Him we are never destroyed, lost, or dead to Him. Our wayward steps may lead us to death by following what we think is right, but thanks be unto Him that we are kept by the power of God and will never be lost from His sight. Knowing these things, may we who name the name of Christ seek to depart from iniquity. By doing so, may we shun the profane and vain babblings of man and hold earnestly to the teachings of the Master while sojourning here in this life.

In Hope,

Bro Philip