Day #344
Scripture Reading: II Timothy 3 - 4 ...
We are in the last days of planet earth. I
don't mean we're in the last days as in the time between the birth of Jesus and
His return ... I mean the end, the last days, as in the last decades ... or
less. What about Jesus' words that we would not know "the day or
the hour." We don't know the day or the hour ... or the week or
the month, but God told us that we WOULD know the time. Paul writes to
the Thessalonians: " ... you know very well that the day of the
Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, 'Peace
and safety,' destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a
pregnant woman, and they will not escape" (I Thessalonians 5:1-3).
Most people stop reading there, but there's more.
"But YOU, BROTHERS, are not in darkness so
that this day should surprise you like a thief ..." (I
Thessalonians 5:4). There are signs given in the Scriptures that give
specific details of the last seven years prior to the battle of Armageddon and
the return of Jesus Christ to defeat the Antichrist, and to establish His
millennial kingdom in Jerusalem. But there are also signs that point very
clearly to the time leading up to the last seven years. One of those signs
is so clear today that we who believe the Bible to be the Word of God MUST
speak about it and call people to recognize it and to be ready, willing and
able to stand firm. The sign I am speaking about is the widespread
rejection of sound doctrine IN THE CHURCH today.
In our reading today Paul warns "there will
be terrible times in the last days" (3:1). He goes on to
explain how people will live - a general description of how sinful people have
lived for some time, but in the last days all of these will be extreme.
While all of them are obvious in our culture and around the world, there
is something more in verse 5 that catches our attention: Paul is
describing those who have "a form of godliness." These
are people who claim to believe in God and perhaps even claim to be Christians.
He warns Timothy to stay away from them, for they lead many astray by their
false teaching. They are "always learning, but never able to
acknowledge the truth" (3:7).
Today in the church countless pastors and teachers,
professors of theology and those who follow them, speak about philosophy and
teach from the traditions and words of men rather than from God's Word.
As I listen to sermons from local churches and elsewhere I rarely hear
even the name of Jesus, and even more rare is any mention of the cross or why
Jesus came. People want to believe that everyone is going to heaven - or almost
everyone, and that there probably isn't any such place as hell. The World
Council of Churches is focused on social justice rather than the preaching of
the Gospel and the Interfaith Movement wants all religions to work together for
"the common good."
False teaching is nothing new ... what IS new is
that millions IN the church are listening to it AND are criticizing those of us
who continue to declare the Gospel and call people to repentance and faith in
Jesus Christ! Paul charged Timothy to
continue in what he had learned from the teaching of God's Word. He
assured him that "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for
teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man
of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work" (3:16-17). People all around us have turned to the
latest "Christian" speaker, without turning to the Bible to discern
whether what he or she is saying is true.
What is going on today is the fulfillment of Paul's
words to Timothy in Chapter 4 of our reading. Paul instructs Timothy to "Preach
the Word ... in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage - with
great patience and careful instruction" (4:2). Why was that so
important? Because it was the only defense against what was coming.
"For the time will come when men will not put up with sound
doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around
them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to
myths" (4:3-4).
While that was true to some degree at other times
in the past 2,000 years, I do not believe it has ever been the case that the
general trend in the church is AWAY from sound doctrine and the teaching of
God's Word. Before the Reformation the church was teaching false
doctrine, but the people did not have the Word of God in their hands at that
time because it hadn't been printed yet. Today is different. People
have the Bible in their hands, but don't open it!!
People want to believe things will continue on the
way they are today. God says the change will take place suddenly and
without warning - for those who do not study God's Word and listen to the voice
of the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ. But we, who like Paul and Timothy and
many since have trusted in Christ, will be able to come to the end of our lives
and say, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I
have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of
righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that
day - and not only to me but also to all who have longed for His
appearing" (4:7-8).
Are you longing for His appearing? Few are.
People want more and more and more in this world, but few are longing for
Jesus to return, even though the Bible ends with the words, "Amen!
Come, Lord Jesus" (Revelation 22:20). We who believe must be firm
in our faith, and the only way for that t0 happen is to be taught by the Spirit
of God through the Word of God. If you are not learning and growing, you
are leaving yourself vulnerable and you can easily be led astray. Read,
study, learn, grow and stand firm in your faith, for the end of all things is
near. Be ready!
"Our Father in heaven, the signs of Jesus'
return are multiplying all around us. As more and more people turn aside
from the truth, listening instead to the words of men, I commit myself to
reading and studying and learning and growing, so that I may be mature ... not
to be independent, but to learn to trust in YOU for all things. Give me
wisdom and strength daily to proclaim Your truth ... to fight the good fight,
and to finish the race, knowing that in the end, it will all be worth it.
In Jesus' name, Amen"
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