Last Days

Paul’s second letter to Timothy talks in chapter three about the conditions that will take place in the last days, which we are living in, and he sure knew what he was talking about; all we have to do is read a newspaper or listen to the news on TV, the radio or the internet.

Read 2 Timothy 3:1-5, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”

Many will hold to an outward form of godliness but deny its power.  This sounds like people that are religious, like wolves in sheep clothing, sounding like they are spiritual but lacking any power, or substance, in their walk, like talking the talk but not walking the walk; being religious but lacking the main ingredient, you might say, which is Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit in their lives.

Read verses 6-11 in that same chapter, “For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as their's also was. But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.”

Paul said that Timothy closely followed His teaching, manner of life, purpose, faithfulness, patience, love, persecutions, and sufferings that happened to him in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra.  Paul endured much persecution but he said that the Lord rescued him from all of them.

Now read what Paul said to Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:12-15, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; and that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”

Then Paul said this to Timothy about all the Scripture again in 3:16-17, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”

There are times we are going to offend some people no matter how we speak the truth.  It is not always the way we present the truth, it is the truth itself that offends people, but we must speak the truth in love.  Sometimes no matter what you say, or how you say it, there are people that will not receive it and they may even get hostile.  This is where it seems easier to compromise and water down the Word to keep people happy, but read what Paul goes on to tell Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:1-5:

“I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.”

If you truly love people, you tell them the truth and not just what they want to hear but what they need to hear!!  Enough said, I have given you something to think about, may you have a super day and may the good Lord bless you and yours!!