We read 2 Timothy 3 in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan for today and it is such an accurate picture of OUR world! Verses 1-5:
1 But understand this, that in the last days will come (set in) perilous times of great stress and trouble [hard to deal with and hard to bear]. 2 For people will be lovers of self and [utterly] self-centered, lovers of money and aroused by an inordinate [greedy] desire for wealth, proud and arrogant and contemptuous boasters. They will be abusive (blasphemous, scoffing), disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy and profane. 3 [They will be] without natural [human] affection (callous and inhuman), relentless (admitting of no truce or appeasement); [they will be] slanderers (false accusers, troublemakers), intemperate and loose in morals and conduct, uncontrolled and fierce, haters of good. 4 [They will be] treacherous [betrayers], rash, [and] inflated with self-conceit. [They will be] lovers of sensual pleasures and vain amusements more than and rather than lovers of God. 5 For [although] they hold a form of piety (true religion), they deny and reject and are strangers to the power of it [their conduct belies the genuineness of their profession]. Avoid [all] such people [turn away from them].
Although some of these things have been occurring over all time, ALL of them, taken together, are happening NOW! And NOT just in nations with tyrannical dictators, but in EVERY nation, and especially in OURS! What SHOULD we do? Our first instruction from God is to AVOID them! That means that we are NOT to intimately associate with them. But it does NOT mean that we don't pray for them, continue to preach the Gospel and to speak the TRUTH! Remember, it is ONLY the knowing the TRUTH that will set people free! And now let's look at verses 14-17:
14 But as for you, continue to hold to the things that you have learned and of which you are convinced, knowing from whom you learned [them], 15 And how from your childhood you have had a knowledge of and been acquainted with the sacred Writings, which are able to instruct you and give you the understanding for salvation which comes through faith in Christ Jesus [through the [leaning of the entire human personality on God in Christ Jesus in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness] . 16 Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God’s will in thought, purpose, and action), 17 So that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.
AMEN! Remember that old, but powerful chorus: "Turn your eyes upon JESUS. Look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the LIGHT of HIS GLORY and GRACE!" Here, to help you do that, is Hillsong UNITED with "Whole Heart":
Shalom in Him!
