Father God, I wish I could have a glance at your Kingdom calendar so I could understand where we are on your timeline. Are we in the last days?
I have been alive 49 years as of this week, and I cannot remember a time when people were not saying, "Jesus could come back any moment now." Times are difficult, but haven't they always been? People are "selfish, greedy, boastful, and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to parents, and ungrateful" (2 Timothy 3), but have they not always been this way since the time of Cain and Abel? Nothing is sacred in our day and time, but didn't Moses face that same attitude when Aaron built the golden calf for the Hebrew people? Every day we encounter people who are unloving and unforgiving; we hear slander and we witness the effects of those who have zero self-control. But these words describe humanity from the dawn of time. People are cruel and hate what is good, but there are examples of this in every century. Betrayal, recklessness, pride, and the love of pleasure are evident in every part of our world, but these have been in existence since the great accuser was kicked out of heaven along with all of his demons. Is there anything that distinguishes our day and age from every age before this? The only cure for the wickedness in our world is the coming reign of Christ when he comes and defeats the enemy and casts him into hell for eternity.
What can we do until then?
It concerns me that as believers, we read these verses as though they only apply to people outside the church. We point our fingers and say, "All you people are heathens, and you're going to hell if you don't come to Jesus!" and we blame the evil of this world on all those sinners out there.
The book of 2 Timothy was written to a pastor. Paul was helping Timothy understand how to work with his church members. Let that sink in for a moment. The church has no one to blame for the chaos in this world but themselves. "They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!" (2 Timothy 3:5) This verse strikes terror in my heart!
Are we only playing church, or are we stepping out in the power of the Mighty Name of God our Master and Savior? Are we carrying our shields of faith and waging war with the sword of the Spirit, or are we sitting in our pews and casting stones at all those evil sinners?
It's time to get up off that thing, church. We have to live our purpose and stop running scared from persecution and suffering, which are the only things that will purify us from evil and form us into godly servants. We must become inspired by the Holy Scriptures and preach the Word of Truth that teaches us to do right and equips us for every good work. Are you equipped? Time is short. Get to work!
I have been alive 49 years as of this week, and I cannot remember a time when people were not saying, "Jesus could come back any moment now." Times are difficult, but haven't they always been? People are "selfish, greedy, boastful, and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to parents, and ungrateful" (2 Timothy 3), but have they not always been this way since the time of Cain and Abel? Nothing is sacred in our day and time, but didn't Moses face that same attitude when Aaron built the golden calf for the Hebrew people? Every day we encounter people who are unloving and unforgiving; we hear slander and we witness the effects of those who have zero self-control. But these words describe humanity from the dawn of time. People are cruel and hate what is good, but there are examples of this in every century. Betrayal, recklessness, pride, and the love of pleasure are evident in every part of our world, but these have been in existence since the great accuser was kicked out of heaven along with all of his demons. Is there anything that distinguishes our day and age from every age before this? The only cure for the wickedness in our world is the coming reign of Christ when he comes and defeats the enemy and casts him into hell for eternity.
What can we do until then?
It concerns me that as believers, we read these verses as though they only apply to people outside the church. We point our fingers and say, "All you people are heathens, and you're going to hell if you don't come to Jesus!" and we blame the evil of this world on all those sinners out there.
The book of 2 Timothy was written to a pastor. Paul was helping Timothy understand how to work with his church members. Let that sink in for a moment. The church has no one to blame for the chaos in this world but themselves. "They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!" (2 Timothy 3:5) This verse strikes terror in my heart!
Are we only playing church, or are we stepping out in the power of the Mighty Name of God our Master and Savior? Are we carrying our shields of faith and waging war with the sword of the Spirit, or are we sitting in our pews and casting stones at all those evil sinners?
It's time to get up off that thing, church. We have to live our purpose and stop running scared from persecution and suffering, which are the only things that will purify us from evil and form us into godly servants. We must become inspired by the Holy Scriptures and preach the Word of Truth that teaches us to do right and equips us for every good work. Are you equipped? Time is short. Get to work!
