“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, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God.”
2 Timothy 3:1-4 NLT
As Paul enters his third chapter, he strengthens the importance of his instruction by speaking to its interpersonal setting. Paul understood that the “last days,” weren’t yet to come. Instead they were present and the contrast between good and evil was a stark one. On the one hand, the godly would be able to be driven by the Holy Spirit and the be anchored in the revealed truth of Jesus. On the other hand, evil behavior would intensify as well. This polarization would provide no middle ground for the message of the gospel. To pretend that it can overcome by being unread on the bookshelves of Christians is naive at best. Instead, to navigate these times, Christians must be in strict adherence and discipline to it. For Timothy, this meant staying consistent with it, despite the polarization and what was to come. For modern Christians, it means the same. Paul spoke to Timothy of a localized event of evil, but we live in a complete world culture where evil abounds on a global scale. To be a minister means understanding that the polarization of godly behavior and evil behavior leaves no room to hide in our Christian communities. The world needs an offensive approach to the gospel because evil attitudes have continued to prevail. We must be stalwart and vigilant. We must let our light shine in the darkness and offer a real victory rather than a gated community.
JOSH McGARY. COM 