But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith; but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was.
2 Timothy 3:1-9
Be certain that difficult days will come upon you. The Greek word (χαλεπός [chalepos /khal·ep·os/]) for perilous means that it will be risky because of the power difference between you and the situation. The odds will be stacked against us. Compared to the situation we won’t stand a chance, but at the very least we can die well. This cornucopia of evil has been among us since Cain killed Able but at the end it will manifest in dynamic proportion. Already our culture loves themselves, money, fame and all the other things in this list that allow them to gain their own pleasures rather than pursuing God, but the end of the list should be the most alarming sign to believers.
The Holy Spirit reveals to Paul that this spiritual corruptness will be in the church. He teaches there will be those who hold out things that look spiritual but are empty of life-changing power. He makes no bones about it. Get away from people who are using the forms of godliness to entrap people. Like the magicians who stood against Moses knowing they were serving false gods who stood by their false gods until the plagues reached them personally before asking Pharaoh to let God’s people go they use their influence to captivate weak people by teaching them all sorts of things but the truth. This is as far as they can go. These weak ones can never progress in their walk with Jesus. The folly of their lives and their teacher’s lessons will be on display for everyone when judgment shows up.
As a pastor I desire for believers to assemble together weekly for worship as has been the custom of believers since our beginning. Even with this desire strong in me, I know better than most that for many Sunday morning can be only a custom; a weekly ritual done dutifully without much passion. Sunday morning for them is a superstition. They have served God His due and now they can go on with their lives as planned. They are denying the power of Jesus to change them deep inside and to change their lives as a result. Today, since Church is tomorrow let’s commit to going with open hearts to hear what scripture says and to let the Holy Spirit move into the roots of our being so that in transforms us into fruit bearing people.
Meeting Him With His People Tomorrow,
Pastor Jason
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