Terrible Times

2 Timothy 3:1-5 NIV  But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.  (2)  People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,  (3)  without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good,  (4)  treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God--  (5)  having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.

The NASB uses the word "Difficult".  "Times of Difficulty" in the ESV.

Aren't we starting to see that today?  It's happening all around the world.  We see it in the streets of America, and in social media here in the Philippines.  We see it in everyday life, in companies, schools, television shows, movies, our neighbors.  Everywhere.

I encourage you to read the passage above slowly, reading every word, every description that Paul used in describing the last days.  And you will realize that it is happening already - everywhere.  I believe there is no doubt that we are living in the last days.

But the church needs to be vigilant and alert that these descriptions do not slowly creep into our hearts and lives.  A true believer is someone who walks by the Spirit, who daily takes up his/her cross and follows Christ.  But if we are not alert our old self will start to creep in, and control our actions.  And without warning we see ourselves looking like the world, with the same descriptions as above.

There will also be some who are "so called believers", wolves in sheep's clothing,  who have a form of godliness but have not really been regenerated.  Sadly they bring these characteristics to the church.

This is what brings trouble and difficulty even within relationships within the church. This was what Paul was warning Timothy about - those who were false teachers, unsubmissive, continuing in sin.

In the last days true believers are to continually live holy lives, lives led by the Spirit as He instructs us and guides us according to God's Word.  We need to make sure that our lives are not described by what we see in the passage above, but, rather, characterized by a love for God, and a holiness that glorifies Him in all that we do.