2 Timothy 3:1-5 New Living Translation
The Dangers of the Last Days
3 You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. 2 For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. 3 They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. 4 They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. 5 They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!
Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
A long time ago, in a garden far far away, the serpent whispered to humanity’s unsuspecting souls “There’s no worry, there is plenty of time” but Christians know they need to live every single day for the Lord as if it could be their last.
Don’t they?
8 Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?”
I said, “Here I am. Send me.”
9 And he said, “Yes, go, and say to this people,
‘Listen carefully, but do not understand.
Watch closely, but learn nothing.’
10 Harden the hearts of these people.
Plug their ears and shut their eyes.
That way, they will not see with their eyes,
nor hear with their ears,
nor understand with their hearts
and turn to me for healing.”[b]
11 Then I said, “Lord, how long will this go on?”
And he replied,
“Until their towns are empty,
their houses are deserted,
and the whole country is a wasteland;
12 until the Lord has sent everyone away,
and the entire land of Israel lies deserted.
13 If even a tenth—a remnant—survive,
it will be invaded again and burned.
But as a terebinth or oak tree leaves a stump when it is cut down,
so Israel’s stump will be a holy seed.”
Perhaps we do not know?
Perhaps we do not bother to care?
Perhaps we are too busy taking life for granted?
Perhaps we are too busy taking God for granted?
Perhaps we are too busy believing God is long since dead and buried?
Perhaps we are too busy listening to the serpent whispering in our ears?
Are we observing, do we have situational awareness … something is not kosher?
Has the serpent dulled our senses to that final nth degree of imperceptibility?
So many questions being asked … but who is the One asking these questions?
Genesis 1:1-5 Amplified Bible
The Creation
1 In the beginning God ([a]Elohim) [b]created [by forming from nothing] the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was [c]formless and void or a waste and emptiness, and darkness was upon the face of the deep [primeval ocean that covered the unformed earth]. The Spirit of God was moving (hovering, brooding) over the face of the waters. 3 And God said, [d]“Let there be light”; and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good (pleasing, useful) and [e]He affirmed and sustained it; and God separated the light [distinguishing it] from the darkness. 5 And God called the light day, and the darkness He called night. And there was [f]evening and there was [g]morning, one day.
Where are the curious ones who bother to look, observe, to hear, to be obedient?
Where are the ones publicly declaring; “my heart was strangely warmed?”
Psalm 19 Amplified Bible
The Works and the Word of God.
To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.
19 The heavens are telling of the glory of God;
And the expanse [of heaven] is declaring the work of His hands.
2
Day after day pours forth speech,
And night after night reveals knowledge.
3
There is no speech, nor are there [spoken] words [from the stars];
Their voice is not heard.
4
Yet their voice [in quiet evidence] has gone out through all the earth,
Their words to the end of the world.
In them and in the heavens He has made a tent for the sun,
5
Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber;
It rejoices as a strong man to run his course.
6
The sun’s rising is from one end of the heavens,
And its circuit to the other end of them;
And there is nothing hidden from its heat.
7
The law of the Lord is perfect (flawless), restoring and refreshing the soul;
The statutes of the Lord are reliable and trustworthy, making wise the simple.
8
The precepts of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart;
The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the Lord are true, they are righteous altogether.
10
They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.
11
Moreover, by them Your servant is warned [reminded, illuminated, and instructed];
In keeping them there is great reward.
12
Who can understand his errors or omissions? Acquit me of hidden (unconscious, unintended) faults.
13
Also keep back Your servant from presumptuous (deliberate, willful) sins;
Let them not rule and have control over me.
Then I will be blameless (complete),
And I shall be acquitted of great transgression.
14
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable and pleasing in Your sight,
O Lord, my [firm, immovable] rock and my Redeemer.
In uncertain turbulent times, God calls each and every one of us to steadfast faith, resilient hope, and genuine godliness, authentic humility, anchored in Savior Jesus Christ, His indelible truth, not swayed by counterfeit spirituality.
God has spoken through His Prophets and His Son and His Apostles – “I AM.”
He has not left us guessing or grasping in the dark.
He places His hand on our shoulder through the apostle Paul and whispers, Steady now. Take courage. I see what you see, and I will guide you through.
2 Timothy is a letter from an older shepherd to a younger one—a seasoned saint encouraging a timid pastor.
Picture Paul, weathered and wise, passing the torch to Timothy, who faces a congregation and a culture churning with confusion.
The ink of this letter feels warm, like a father’s arm around a son.
It names the ache of the age and points us to the Anchor who holds in every storm.
Hebrews 6:17-20 Amplified Bible
17 In the same way God, in His desire to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable nature of His purpose, intervened and guaranteed it with an oath, 18 so that by two unchangeable things [His promise and His oath] in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled [to Him] for refuge would have strong encouragement and indwelling strength to hold tightly to the hope set before us. 19 This hope [this confident assurance] we have as an anchor of the soul [it cannot slip and it cannot break down under whatever pressure bears upon it]—a safe and steadfast hope that enters within the veil [of the heavenly temple, that most Holy Place in which the very presence of God dwells], 20 where Jesus has entered [in advance] as a forerunner for us, having become a High Priest forever according to the order of [a]Melchizedek.
Paul tells us plainly: there would be days marked by both pressure and peril, by counterfeit spirituality and a carousel of teachers who dazzle but do not deliver.
It sounds familiar, doesn’t it?
Our calendars are crowded, our newsfeeds are loud, and our spirits can feel thin.
And yet, right here—right now—God calls us to walk in clarity, courage, and compassion. He calls us to be a people of resilient hope and rugged holiness.
He calls us to hold truth with tenderness and to trust Christ with tenacity.
J. I. Packer once wrote, “A little knowledge of God is worth more than a great deal of knowledge about him.”
That lands near the center of our passage today.
So many words swirl.
So much content streams.
Yet the living knowledge of God—knowing Him, loving Him, listening to Him—gives ballast to the soul and brightness to our steps.
Today, we sit under a 2000 years old text identifying the times and lifts our eyes unto the heavens which God took from chaos’ iron clad grasp to hope and love.
It will help us to better understand the crisis of the last days, teach us how to face sham spirituality and false teaching, and strengthen our resolve to keep step with the truth while we wait for the appearing of our Savior and King.
The point is not panic; the point is preparation.
The goal is not fear; the goal is faithfulness.
The goal is not inaction, sitting playing video games; The goal is obedience.
And do we know what faithfulness looks like in an age like ours? It looks like a steady heart, a sound mind, a soft word, and a stubborn hope in Jesus Christ.
Psalm 81:15 Amplified Bible
15
Those who hate the Lord would pretend obedience to Him and cringe before Him,
And their time of punishment would be forever.
And dare we know what authentic obedience would look like in an age like ours?
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit
Praying …
Psalm 128 Amplified Bible
Blessedness of the Fear of the Lord.
A Song of [a]Ascents.
128 Blessed [happy and sheltered by God’s favor] is everyone who fears the Lord [and worships Him with obedience],
Who walks in His ways and lives according to His commandments.
2
For you shall eat the fruit of [the labor of] your hands,
You will be happy and blessed and it will be well with you.
3
Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine
Within the innermost part of your house;
Your children will be like olive plants
Around your table.
4
Behold, for so shall the man be blessed and divinely favored
Who fears the Lord [and worships Him with obedience].
5
May the Lord bless you from Zion [His holy mountain],
And may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life;
6
Indeed, may you see your [family perpetuated in your] children’s children.
Peace be upon Israel!
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
