The Apostle Paul was an amazing man. In his early years, he persecuted Christians. Then on his way to Damascus his life took a 180% turn. He went from persecuting Christians to teaching and preaching Christianity. While working in God’s Kingdom, he was left for dead, shipwrecked, imprisoned, afflicted, and persecuted. At the end of his life (66-67 A.D.) he wrote 2nd Timothy. Timothy was one of the workers that helped Paul and was a close friend of Paul’s. The instruction that Paul gives Timothy had a lot of insight and applies to us as Christians today.
In the 3rd Chapter of 2nd Timothy, Paul tells Timothy what was coming in the last days. It is truly astonishing how accurate he was for today’s world.
Paul starts this Chapter off by saying, “Know this that in the last days perilous times will come.” He leaves no doubt about what was to come. In verse 2, Paul lays out exactly what he was talking about. 1) Men will be Lovers of themselves, 2) Men will be lovers of money, 3) Men will be boasters, 4) Men will be proud, 5) Men will be blasphemers, 6) Men will be disobedient to parents (And God the Father), 7) Men will be unthankful, 8) Men will be unholy, 9) Men will be unloving, 10) Men will be unforgiving, 11) Men will be slanderers, 12) Men will be without self-control, 13) Men will be brutal, 14) Men will be despisers of good, 15) Men will be traitors, 16) Men will be headstrong, 17 Men will be haughty, 18) Men will be lovers of pleasure, rather that lovers of God, 19) Men will have a form of godliness, but denying it’s power. Then Paul gives the instruction to: “Turn away from such people!” In verse 7 he says, “Men will always be learning, but never able to come to the knowledge of truth.” These men will resist the truth; Men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith.
Verse 10, Paul tells us how not to get entrapped in foolish ways. He tells us to, “Carefully follow my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, and perseverance.”
Verses 12,13, and 14 states that Christians who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil men and imposters will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. We must, as Christians, continue in the things we have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom we learned them.
Written 1950 years ago, this is the world today. Don’t get caught up in it!!
Have a good day all. SMILE God loves YOU!!
