Paul outlines the characteristics of our society in the last days in 2 Timothy 3:2-8. There, he reveals that society will be characterized as:
· Selfish. People will be self-centered, driven by greed, and arrogant.
· Revilers. Men and women will be blasphemers, misusing the name of God and marked with profanity. They will hate the church and everything that is sacred.
· Disobedient. As parents seem less and less interested in their children, these young people will continue to rebel and grow into jaded, troubled adults.
· Ungrateful. How often do you hear people talk about how grateful they are to God? More often than not, the world just complains about what they do not have. Sadly, this condition will only grow worse.
· Unloving. People will be cold and harsh to the things of God. And, as a result, they will show no respect or concern for people, either.
· Irreconcilable. More and more, forgiveness will become a lost ideal. Vengeance and retaliation will better characterize our relationships.
· Malicious gossips. These are people whose speech is marked by sharp, bitter arrows designed to bring pain upon others.
· Without control. People will be completely undisciplined, giving full reign to their impulses.
· Brutal. We see this even in the youngest of children, as students give in to violence in their homes and schools.
· Treacherous. Even now, it is almost impossible to find someone you can trust completely. Sadly, absolute confidence has become an outdated ideal in this dark world.
· Reckless. Men and women do “their own thing,” without regard to the impact those actions have upon others.
· Lovers of pleasure. We have become a generation marked by the adage, “If it feels good, do it.” The world gives more attention to what feels good than what the Word of God says.
· Empty religion. Second Timothy 3:5 reveals that the world will be known for people who cling to “a form of godliness,” but that empty religion will have no substance.
· Opposed to the truth. People don’t want to hear the truth; they want to hear what makes them feel better. When the Word calls them to a hard decision, they will generally go with the desires of their own hearts instead.
This certainly seems to be a discouraging comment on the world climate and what we can expect in the future. However, this also provides an amazing opportunity for God’s children to shine their lights brighter than ever before, claiming pieces of the darkness for the kingdom of God.
If the world is in so much trouble, what protections are there for believers in the midst of conflict? After giving his disturbing list of things to come, Paul gives Timothy some reassurances and suggestions for weathering the storm in the grace and power of God.
First, Paul says we are to be sensitive to the work of God in the godly people around us. (2 Timothy 3:10-11) That is, we should pay attention to what God is doing in and through the lives of His children. How do they respond to difficulty? What has God done in their lives that can bring hope to us?
In 2 Timothy 3:10-11, Paul reminds Timothy of the hardships he endured, and praises God for delivering him. What an encouragement it is to see how the Lord delivers His children! When we see it in another believer’s life, we are reminded of God’s protection of us, as well.
Second, we are to be aware of the futility in the life of the ungodly. Second Timothy 3:9 shows that the ungodly “will not make further progress.” It may look like they make some headway in their lives sometimes; we might see a wealthy unbeliever who has all the money in the world, but attacks the things of God. The world may see that person as a success, but none of their riches will last. In the spiritual realm, they will make no progress whatsoever.
Third, we are to be committed to the Word of God as our guide. (2 Timothy 3:14-17) Paul reminds us that we have had plenty of opportunities to see the truth of God’s Word. And, we should honor God’s Word as “inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). In the Word, we are “equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:17).
This means that as we dig into Scripture, and the Word becomes part of us, Jesus Christ will pour into us all the energy, strength, wisdom, and power that we need to truly succeed in this dark world. That is what the Bible does! It is an instruction book for successful living in a world in which success is often hard to see.
Fourth, we must be ready to share the saving truth of Jesus with anyone, anytime, anywhere. Paul says we must be ready “in season and out of season” to share God’s love with others. (2 Timothy 4:1-2) This means all of us—not just preachers. We all have a message to share, and we all have the responsibility to do so.
(Charles Stanley Institute of Christian Living)
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