by David Brenneman
"But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these." 2 Timothy 3:1-5.
"But know this: Hard times will come in the last days. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, proud, demeaning, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, without love for what is good, traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to the form of godliness but denying its power. Avoid these people." 2 Timothy 3:1-5 CSB.
"But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!" II Timothy 3:1-5. NKJV
Take a really good look at this passage from 3 translation perspectives.
As several of the Study Bibles that I read last night attest to, these kinds of people that were there in Timothy's time are certainly in ours as well. Again, the Churches were taught to be expectant of the possibility of Jesus Christ returning.
That expectant perspective should be ours today.
How much more focused are you on cleaning up your home when someone you haven't seen in a long time is supposed to be stopping for a visit?
How much more presentable will you be in that moment?
When you know of someone you look up to is going to be nearby and the opportunity presents itself for you to meet them. How much more attention are you going to pay to your appearance?
When you have been entrusted with completing something and you know that you're going to be checked concerning it, how much extra effort will you make to ensure its as perfect as it can be?
Jesus is certainly returning for His Church, just as assuredly as He arose from the dead to sit at the right hand of the Father in Heaven.
We're warned of the kinds of people we will encounter and what we ought to do concerning them. We also ought to be on the alert if such people try to infiltrate the Church to disrupt the proper teaching of God's Word. Regardless of if you agree or not, women who think they can be called to preach over a congregation are listening to the doctrines of demons. These ideas of this were happening at Ephesus. It's nothing new to our age.
Earlier in these letters to Timothy we read of the qualifications for men to be the only ones called to be preachers of the Word of God.
At the end of Chapter 3 we likewise read "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17. Paul's instructions were for Timothy to seek out and find approved men of God to be the future preachers of the Word of God. Using the Bible as the standard of measurement.
In our days we are seeing an explosion of false teachers and women who think they can be a preacher over a congregation. We see the Name of Jesus Christ removed from being essential to salvation. We see the Bible not even referred to during church services. We see Jesus not honored in worship music.
Look at Paul's next words to Timothy. "I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths." 2 Timothy 4:1-4.
Right there is the headlines of today's world.
Me, personally, I am excited and expecting Jesus to return. I am wanting to be found by Him ready to go and be with Him. I am not about to mince words and am not writing what He has me write to spare feelings. He instructed me over 7 years ago that He would give me things to write and it was upon me to write them. If I didn't then I would be needing to give an account as to why. Just as the Watchman on the Wall of Jerusalem was accountable for the warning of dangers to the people, so am I with this ministry.
You may not agree, but that's between you and Jesus. Take it up with Jesus. Get out your Bible, and go to Him in prayer.
As for me and my house we will serve the Lord. My expectation of His return is to be obedient to His Word to me for me. Doing whatever I do as unto the Lord. You, my Dear Reader ought to do the same. Being sure of your salvation. Being in the Word of God daily. Being in prayer as consistently as possible. Being in the whole armor of God at all times. Seeking first His Kingdom and His righteousness. Living a transformed life that honors Jesus Christ and is eager to be found obedient to your calling in Christ Jesus.
Someone once said that if we ignore the past we will be doomed to repeat our mistakes in the future. Various denominations have ignored the past that Paul, Timothy, Luke, Titus, and others lived through at Ephesus, Philadelphia, Corinth and other such places and here we have those mistakes repeated today.
Are you going to be found faithful to the Word of God or to the myths of mankind? Are you going to be shocked and ashamed at Jesus returning or are you going to explode with joy at His appearing?
As Timothy was so charged by Paul to live up to, so are all men of God that are to be the spiritual leaders of the Church.
Be about the work of God in Christ Jesus that's yours to accomplish. Be sure that what you are doing is God's plan and purpose for you and give it your everything.
Be obedient to God's Word and not the mere speculations of this world.
Be found to be ready by living a faithful life in Christ Jesus.
Be ready for that shout that will call us out of this world!
All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
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