Wednesday, April
5, 2023
ENDURING THESE PERILOUS TIMES
2 Tim 3:1-5
3 This know also,
that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall
be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers,
disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural
affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of
those that are good,
4 Traitors,
heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form
of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
Sorting through the
rubble of my morning emotions, I find that the world around me has become
perilous. Ah, there is a word that has been relegated to antiquity! In Paul’s
warning, he uses a Greek word that has the idea of “reducing
in strength.” It is the result of relentless wrong pounding blow after blow upon the
conscience of right until right changes its mind. We have arrived at a dangerous
time.
I think of my
parents who lived through the years of 1939 to 1945. These years formed a
template for all evil. Aghast at the actions of a despot, and confused at the
complicity of his victims, my parents first watched their country hide in
isolation. They armed their friends hoping to avoid direct confrontation with
the evil. Ultimately evil sought them out and drew them out.
Returning to our
Bible portion, we search for a solution to this recurring evil and find just a few
principles suggested by Paul. First, in verse 5, he says to avoid evil people.
Then, later, in verse 14, he says to “continue” doing right and
not to abandon truth. Finally, Paul concludes with the following warning.
2 Tim 4:5
5 But watch thou
in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of
an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. KJV
Dear Lord, protect us and all who suffer the relentless pounding of
wrong. Help us not to grow weary in well-doing. Keep us alert to evil and aware
of our constant help in You. Let us never abandon truth for a more comfortable lie.
AMEN
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