“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” II Timothy 3: 1 – 5
The apostle Paul wrote this letter to instruct Timothy, who was at that time a young minister. In this chapter, Paul is warning Timothy about the signs of the times. We also must take note of these perilous times in which we live. It is clear that the danger of which Paul warns Timothy is not from without the church, but from within. Paul does not warn of violent persecution, but rather of those people who have a form of godliness. They call themselves Christians. They are in the church.
Are these last days and perilous times upon us? It is clear, looking at the world, that they are. We only have to glance at the newspaper to find that all of these signs about which Paul writes are commonplace in the world. Most of these signs are considered normal, acceptable behavior by the world. In fact, Paul had described, for the most part, what the world around us is like today.
We don’t have to look at the world though. Look at the church. Look at our own lives. Does this list describe us? Do we love some of these sins which Paul lists: lovers of our own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents? If so, then we have a real problem. We are not walking separately from the world. We cannot expect God’s blessing upon us when we walk in unrepented sin. Does this list describe us? If so, these are the last days and these are perilous times.
Are we lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God? Do sports come before catechism in your life? Do we come unprepared to society because our social life is too busy? Perhaps we can skip a few Sunday services to vacation: after all, we need rest. We try to justify our sins, but there is no justification for sin, only repentance. If God does not come first in our lives, then we are lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. If we would rather watch T.V. all night, listen to worldly music, or go to the movies, then something is spiritually wrong with us. God is not foremost in our lives. These are perilous times, and the end is near.
Paul refers to people who have a form of godliness, but deny the power thereof (verse 5). He refers to people who call themselves Christians, who are baptized, probably go to church, catechism, and Christian schools; however their walk does not show Christianity. They do whatever they please. They do not show repentance, but rather continue in the sinful ways. Paul says, “From such turn away.” Do not “hang around” with these kinds of people. Tell them they are sinning, but don’t count them as your friends. Certainly we see people like this around us. These are the last days, and these are perilous times.
What makes these times so perilous? The devil is very clever. He is working harder than ever, but he is not making a frontal assault on us. The government is not bothering us, we are not suffering severe persecution, nor are our lives in danger. In fact, we live pretty comfortable lives. The devil is attacking us where we are weakest: from within. The devil is lulling us into a false security. Everything is going fine, or so it seems. But gradually we are being rocked to sleep. It isn’t happening overnight, but little by little, we are losing our spiritual sensitivity. Our sins don’t bother us quite as much. More and more our sins are considered normal, acceptable behavior. We are becoming more tolerant of the world and of sin. This cannot be. They are our enemies. We must fight. Our lives must be a continual struggle against all sin. Do not compromise the most important thing in your life for a night out on the town. The devil knows what you, by nature, want. He makes it so available to us: so easy to get. Just a turn of a dial gets the radio or T.V. on. Fight him, continually.
James 4:7 & 8 says, “Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.” This means if you give in to the devil and your own sinful flesh, the next time the devil tempts you, you will give in that much easier. Gradually you become insensitive to a sin. Your conscience no longer bothers you. That is when you hear yourself make comments like, “I know I shouldn’t be doing it, but it isn’t hurting anyone, and besides, everybody else is doing it.” That is not resisting the devil. If you try to resist the devil in and of your own strength, you will fail. Only in and through God’s strength can we overcome.
Resisting the devil is, first of all hearing and living what we hear preached to us every Sunday. That is most important. Study your catechism and prepare for society. Do not let worldly cares push spiritual priorities out of your life. Learn and love God’s word. We must leave plenty of time, in our busy lives for our own personal devotions. Our lives must revolve around our gratitude for our faith and salvation. That is resisting the devil. When you do that, then he will flee from you.
Then also, you will draw nigh to God. You will become more aware of your salvation. You will be prepared for these last, perilous days that are upon us. You will have to struggle, but the victory is sure. God will protect us in these perilous times in which we live.