Does anyone need a reminder as to the difficult times we live in? Probably not. But likely a deep-down realization as to the implications of our times is needed.
"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 realize this". To realize is to know intimately, much like Paul's desire to intimately know Jesus (Philippians 3:10). Now, why would anyone want to intimately know about the difficult times we live in? Does that mean we must saturate our lives with all the sordid and morbid details that the media conveys to us as news? I certainly hope not; that's a sure recipe for pessimism. Rather, I think the writer of 1 Timothy would have us be sufficiently informed as to the degenerative nature of people in these last days as incentive for the course of action we need to pursue:
"You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." (2 Timothy 3:14-15)
In the last days, while wicked people are "perfecting" what they have learned in sinful behavior, God's people are prompted to perfect their learning in righteousness. And, unless we see this great disparity between lifestyles, we will not likely find the incentive to live as we ought in the last days.
One of the great dangers in last-day living is not clearly seeing the line drawn in the sand. A spirit of accommodation makes it much more difficult to see the radical opposition that truly exists toward the kingdom of God, its King, and its citizens. The more we stand for kingdom principles, the more we discover how close and universal opposition is.
Once again I'm reminded how vitally important the word of God is in the training process for the lifestyle we are called to live: "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) These verses are often used to support the authority of the Bible as God's word, but it's easy to overlook the truth that these words are for equipping God's people in God-pleasing lifestyle.
Know the times that we live in, but know even more the truth that leads to the kingdom lifestyle that God requires of His people. May we be a praise and glory to our Father as we live God-pleasing lives in difficult last days.
Steve
© 2010, Steve Taylor
"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 realize this". To realize is to know intimately, much like Paul's desire to intimately know Jesus (Philippians 3:10). Now, why would anyone want to intimately know about the difficult times we live in? Does that mean we must saturate our lives with all the sordid and morbid details that the media conveys to us as news? I certainly hope not; that's a sure recipe for pessimism. Rather, I think the writer of 1 Timothy would have us be sufficiently informed as to the degenerative nature of people in these last days as incentive for the course of action we need to pursue:
"You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." (2 Timothy 3:14-15)
In the last days, while wicked people are "perfecting" what they have learned in sinful behavior, God's people are prompted to perfect their learning in righteousness. And, unless we see this great disparity between lifestyles, we will not likely find the incentive to live as we ought in the last days.
One of the great dangers in last-day living is not clearly seeing the line drawn in the sand. A spirit of accommodation makes it much more difficult to see the radical opposition that truly exists toward the kingdom of God, its King, and its citizens. The more we stand for kingdom principles, the more we discover how close and universal opposition is.
Once again I'm reminded how vitally important the word of God is in the training process for the lifestyle we are called to live: "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) These verses are often used to support the authority of the Bible as God's word, but it's easy to overlook the truth that these words are for equipping God's people in God-pleasing lifestyle.
Know the times that we live in, but know even more the truth that leads to the kingdom lifestyle that God requires of His people. May we be a praise and glory to our Father as we live God-pleasing lives in difficult last days.
Steve
© 2010, Steve Taylor
posted by steve @ 8:02 AM
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