IN PERILOUS TIME, TRUST IN JESUS

2 Timothy 3:1-5

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people. 2 Timothy 3:1-5

Observing people and the youth today and considering the dark side of their captivation with technology and digital media, we may wonder if we are getting close to the generation Paul describes in these verses. In fact, we must ask, are we already there? The growth of technology causing rapid changes in our world, could have been a topic addressed by Jesus thousands of years ago, when He spoke to His disciples about signs of the end of the age.

He also prophesied about a time when children would rebel against their parents, even to the point of death. Here Paul prophesized of moral decay, societal degeneration and an increasing advance towards every form of ungodliness, such that the influence of evil and wickedness would be seen to permeate every area of society and would even infect the Christian church itself.

Paul gave clear, concise instructions to Christians living in "the end times," and outlines our responsibility to God and our duty toward others. The horrific list of heathen depravity, shocking blasphemy, unthinkable wickedness, moral decay, societal degeneration, unbridled passion and religious bigotry is not simply a description of the unsaved but is an indicator of the progressive depth to which much of the Christian church has fallen over the past 2000 years.

Paul himself saw the beginnings of these perilous times and I believe we are now living in the final stages of "the last days." But Paul never gives a warning without the necessary tools to address the issue at hand. He does not tell us to try to change society on our own per se, but he does instruct us to turn away from such evil things, to immerse ourselves in the scriptures to preach the Word, to be watchful in all things, to endure hardships, to do the work of an evangelist, to fulfill our ministry, and to keep the faith.

We are to keep our eyes looking to Jesus so we may finish the race that God has set before each one of us, whatever that race may be, and he also reminds us that there is a crown of righteousness laid up for all who long for His return. Today we are much closer to the return of Christ than the disciples in those early days of Christianity when the perilous times in which we now live began. But down through the ages there have been men and women who have read and understood this passage, and faithfully carried out Paul's final instructions to the Church before his death.

They too were living in the last days as the scripture indicates and they too took heed of the instructions that were given to the body of Christ in this final epistle of Paul. May we in like manner fulfill our responsibility to God and our duty towards our fellow man as we look steadfastly to Jesus, study His word, and fulfill the ministry that God has given each of us!!!

Father, thank You for this day and for Your amazing grace. Lord, let the windows of heaven rain down Your abundant blessings upon my friends and family today. Lord, thank You for Your Word and the wisdom and warnings it contains. Lord, we pray that in these perilous times we will take heed to the instructions of Paul and look to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, and seek Him in the power of the Holy Spirit, to live in these increasingly perilous times. Lord, help us not grow weary or faint. Lord, use my friends to boldly proclaim the life-changing Word of God to all today.

Father, we love You. Amen.