I was just thinking about the times in which we live. Fellow believers, we are living in awful, evil times. However, we who believe God’s Word should not be shocked. I remind you of what Paul wrote to Timothy: “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God — having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people” (II Tim. 3:1-5 NIV).
Does that sound familiar? It should, because everything mentioned in that passage is evident — not just in our country, but also around the world.
“Houston (America), we have a problem!”
Turn your television on, log onto the internet, read a daily newspaper, listen to the radio news… or just look around. No matter what some may say, things are not good in this old world. We have a problem. Things are getting worse, not better.
Paul wrote Timothy elsewhere: “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron,” (I Tim. 4:1-2).
In our day, we are inundated with horrific news. Mothers are strangling their own children, mass shootings are taking the lives of hundreds and people are being beaten to death in subways, on playgrounds and on city streets. Yes, we definitely have a problem.
Embracing the Unholy
In the United States, many scoff at the idea of a real devil. They continue to visualize him as a cartoon character in a red suit with horns on his head and carrying a pitchfork. But he is real and, year by year, month by month in our country, Satan and his influence is being embraced by people of all ages from all walks of life.
This is not the America of our early beginnings — this is the America of the last days. At the recent Grammy Awards, the performance of “Unholy” was nothing but a time of evil and a not-so-subtle push of Satan worship. When such is promoted and welcomed, we have a problem.
Charlatans — Lovers of Money
The departure from the good is not limited to the Grammy performance. It is becoming more and more evident in churches across the nation. Preachers stand in pulpits and proclaim a gospel that is contrary to the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is one that urges the congregants to crave riches rather than to serve the Lord. Such preachers are charlatans. The only ones prospering are the multi-millionaire pastors.
Should We Be Surprised?
The answer is certainly no. God’s Word is true. It was true to Moses, to David and to Malachi. His Word was true to the apostles and the New Testament believers, and it is true to us today.
What Paul wrote to Timothy needs to resound from our pulpits and Sunday School lecterns, and from around the family tables — “…some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.” This generation must prepare the next generation — if there is one — to know the truth of God’s Word.
The Greek word for abandon is “aphistemi.”It means to actively and intentionally depart, to desert, to revolt. We are seeing that abandonment today. This one-time “one nation under God” has become “one nation away from God.” We definitely have a problem!
May our churches — pastors and members — remain true to the Word of God. May we not faint but stand steadfast in carrying the gospel. May we do so until Jesus calls us to Him!
