“In the last days there will come times of difficulty. People will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people…
“You, however, have followed my teaching, conduct, aim in life, faith, patience, love, steadfastness, persecutions and sufferings..—which I endured… Evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. Continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”
“Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering,.. fulfill your ministry.” 2 Timothy 3:1-5,10-11,13-17; 4:2-5
Godly wisdom gave Paul both insight into the ways of culture and discernment of particular human behavior. He saw through the veneer of superficial righteousness as one who’d lived and breathed it in all its false glory. He’d pretended, with vehemence, in spiritual ignorance, but once arrested by Christ’s grace understood the wiles of a glossy appearance that cloaked a pride-infested rebel heart. So he warned his young protégée to be alert and take caution. Real power was manifested neither in cursory platitudes nor brazen wickedness, but by the Spirit of God at work in His people.
Ours are certainly times of difficulty, with inflamed disordered desires awry in every space. Lovers of self, money, power, intellect, control, idols, and immoral practices abound. They infiltrate weak minds as well as institutions, infecting the language and flow of communal and national atmosphere.
We must be aware and bold to avoid such people who spread distortions and unrighteousness like gangrene. We must be honest and put off false appearances and lip service to biblical truth when we do not tap into its power. We cannot assume we’re immune to temptation, but must steadfastly pursue the Lord, steep in His life-giving word, and practice wisdom and uprightness. (2 Timothy 2:17)
How do we skim the surface spiritually? What groups of people and manipulated sound bites do we straddle in misguided hunger to please and appease? Where are we pretending at generosity but fostering inner greed, talking up love but concealing inner resentment or disdain, or professing humility but failing to submit to the Almighty?
If we are genuinely the Lord’s, earnestly pursuing Him, His character, His ways, our lives will exhibit His Spirit’s power. Appearance and profession will consistently align with inner impulses, outward behavior will reflect His graces that no supposed power of the world can overcome. Where is He convicting us to come clean and allow His power to take over?
Father, may my manner of life reflect the power of Your grace, purity, and glory.
As the rain and snow 