Last days, or end times?

Last days, or end times?  2 Timothy 3.1-5

Good Day. 

My mother was a God-fearing woman ~ and I do mean, a God-fearing woman who lived her life for God.  Some folks have a reverential, sacred respect of God . . . honestly we all should have such, if we even remotely understand how big, how great he is … and my mom certainly had that and more.  Perhaps she even was literally afraid of God; I can remember her trying to shame me into correct behavior and right attitudes because if I did not she would say, ‘the devil is gonna get you in broad daylight!’  Then I knew I had better straighten up, or I was in deep weeds.  And I suppose it was my mom who also passed down a great and awesome respect for the end of times, and just what that time might look like.  ‘Because one day the Lord is coming back and he is going to set things straight!’

Sometimes the end of times is referred to as the last days; either way, we have some notion of when God will come back and time will be no more.

Paul wrote, “You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, they will be reckless, puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!

Wow, these are rather depressing warnings for we who are living in the last days, but according to the New Testament writers, we have been in the last days since Christ came to earth the first time—you know, the walk to Bethlehem on the back of a donkey, and being born in a manger with livestock all around.  What in the world is meant by the last days?  The most common usage has to do with the days before God comes and has his will, when his ways are finally exacted on earth.

Was Paul warning Timothy of the earmarks of last-days living, or was Paul simply reminding Timothy to guard against such things as he listed?  Either way, Paul warned of difficult times … saying, ‘Timothy, wake up!’  As we take a look at these things, let us notice the culture we live in that seems to promote such qualities … and even think of those we know who might be guilty of housing and/or exhibiting such traits.    Think about it--do we see signs today of people

   ~loving only self, or their money?  Oh yes, of course, we do!

     Both become all-consuming fires that tear away and burn the hearts of men

Do we see signs of people

   ~ being prideful, often bandying about arrogant attitudes and boasting?  

      ~disobeying their parents?!  What happened to honoring parents?

         ~sorely ungrateful?

             ~esteeming nothing as sacred—instead spurning the sacred?

                  ~who are unloving

                      ~who pride themselves in holding grudges, being unforgiving?

                              ~talking unkindly, critically and slandering others?

                                    ~lacking self control

                                        ~being cruel,

        ~spurning that which is good?

            ~given to betrayal in relationships

                 ~ overcome by recklessness

        ~filled up, puffed up with pride

 ~choosing pleasure rather than God.           

    ~who act religious, but who instead will   

          reject the Holy Spirit power that

              alone could make them holy.

Wow, quite a list, but it shockingly resembles so much of what we see exhibited in the general populace, doesn’t it?  Stop and consider who is given top billing by our media … from self-indulgent movie and rock stars to professional athletes who long ago lost sight of anything resembling self control and humility.  Last days?  If this is the description, surely!

Paul’s warning—stay away from people who act like that!  Perhaps it is time to take stock: do you find any qualities that describe you?  And if not, do you find any in those whose company you keep?  Great opportunity to stop, look, pray and consider.