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.

Nothing on Earth I Desire Except You

Psalms 73:25 ESV+  Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.

 This is one of the most quoted verses of Scripture, well loved among bible Christians.  But have we ever really sat down and meditated on what this means?

The first question, the first line, is easy to accept.  Those of us who are growing with God and His Word know that there is no one else in heaven that we have except God.  Even with all the angels, and Christian saints who have gone before us, there is no one there that we have except God.

I think it’s the second line that we need to pause and ponder upon – "and there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you".  Really?  Easy to say, but in reality it is a struggle in our hearts.

One of the hardest things to surrender to the Lord are our desires.  Yes, plural – “desires”, for in our hearts we have many desires.  And all of those desires are found on earth.  We may have one or two “heavenly” or spiritual desires, but they are outweighed by the desires that this world feeds to us everyday.

Just look at how the psalm begins:

Psalms 73:1-3 ESV+  A Psalm of Asaph. Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.  (2)  But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped.  (3)  For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

 

It begins with a statement of faith – “Truly God is good…to those who are pure in heart”.  But it is quickly drowned out by ENVY.  And this envy is focused on those who are arrogant and wicked, and the prosperity that they have.

Isn’t this a question many Christians have in their hearts – why do the wicked enjoy the world?  Why are they the ones who are prosperous, who have nice cars, and big houses?  Why are they the ones with the most expensive gadgets, jewellery and “toys for the big boys”.

We see it everywhere, all around us.  And our hearts naturally envy.  And the danger comes when we begin to think “why should I remain righteous if I can’t enjoy the things that they have?”.

 But in the middle of the psalm a revival seems to happen.

Psalms 73:16-17 ESV+  But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task,  (17)  until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end.

 Only in the presence of God, where we are graciously given His understanding of life, can we really see things clearly.

This is what lead to the psalmist saying “Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.”

 How essential it is for believers to continually dwell in the presence of God in prayer, worship and His Word everyday!  It brings us away from the materialism and greed of this world into what really matters – God and God alone.  And this is where we find the strength to re-focus our hearts on heavenly things, rather than in this world.  And no matter how our hearts fail, God will always bring us back to Him

Psalms 73:26 ESV+  My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

And in His presence we find the greatest good that our hearts can ever experience.

Psalms 73:28 ESV+  But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.

 

Go and tell it on the mountains!  Shout it!  This is what true Christianity is – standing in this world, proclaiming that there is nothing in this earth that can really satisfy us except God.  We were all born with the natural tendency to seek the things of this earth.  Our sinful nature has given us a heart that seeks peace and satisfaction away from God and in the things of this earth.  The good news is by His grace, He has sent His Son Jesus Christ to save us from this sinful nature, and bring us to a life that is truly life – a life eternal, a life that is knows that there is nothing else to desire in this world except God Himself.