KEEP IT REAL

 

Wednesday, April 13, 2022

 

KEEP IT REAL

Context: 2 Timothy 3:1-8

 

2 Tim 3:5

5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

 

2 Tim 3:13-14

13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;

 

          Because unchecked evil grows exponentially, it is not unreasonable to assume that evil will invade even religion and masquerade as godliness. Because deceit has no spiritual life, it manufactures things visible and tangible to compensate for its lack of life. It is a well-dressed body.

 

          John Baptist was clothed in camel’s hair garments that must have been quite a contrast to the trappings of the Pharisees. Jesus addressed John’s audience saying, “But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses.” (Matt 11:8)

 

          In Second Timothy 3:8, two men, Jannes and Jambres, are mentioned which seem to have no record. Nowhere are they mentioned in the Old Testament although Jewish tradition says these were the two Egyptian magicians that opposed Moses and tried to copy his miracles. These, Paul said, were to be rejected and their teachings deflected. They were incorrigibly corrupt and their religion a counterfeit.

 

          In filtering evil from religion, the tendency is to abandon real faith in the process. God, His church, and His people become collateral damage in rejecting counterfeit religion. The practical result is not a purified faith but no faith at all. This requires careful treatment. Paul’s advice to Timothy was to know the truth so thoroughly that falsehood would be easily seen. Do not abandon truth because it is old in favor of shiny error.

 

2 Tim 3:14-15

14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;

15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

 

Lord, let me discern truth and cling to it. AMEN