Key Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:1-5 

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

Relevance

Scripture states that in the last days, perilous times will come. Perilous for whom? 

When we look at the characters and personalities mentioned here, we see that everybody is a risk of harm from them, not just Christians. It's easy to see that nobody in this bunch could be trusted long-term by anyone. 

But as we get to the bottom of our scripture, one issue stands out among them all. Every person with those distinctive habits possesses the common issue of having a form of godliness.  

Every one of those issues is a mini-god of evil, with a demon behind it. Those people manufactured gods to suit themselves.

This is a time for Christians to know who they are following, to ensure they are not deluded into chasing the same goals, same habitds and same patterns of life. Each one of these issues is a clear trap for believers and begins subtly. All we need to do is open the door with a bit of interest, and that becomes an invitation.

Even in the 1800s, Anglican preacher J.C. Ryle warned his people about the danger of fabricating gods to suit themselves. 

“Beware of manufacturing a God of your own: a God who is all mercy, but not just; a God who is all love, but not holy; a God who has a heaven for everybody, but a hell for none; a God who can allow good and bad to be side by side in time, but will make no distinction between good and broad in eternity. Such a God is an idol of your own, as truly an idol as any snake or crocodile in an Egyptian temple. The hands of your own fancy and sentimentality have made him. He is not the God of the Bible, and beside the God of the Bible, there is no God at all.”― J.C. Ryle 

Every now and then, we need a prompt that will bring us closer to the one true God of the Bible; to read all of scripture, not just the nice bits; to continue in, or return to, righteousness; and to turn from anything else that attracts us. 

When Jesus told his listeners to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, He undoubtedly meant to seek them always. Let's do that, but stay aware of the other guys.

Prayer

Dear Lord, we already see these changes in people. We don't want to take on any of those characteristics, so please continue to lead, guide and discipline us into your kingdom. Praise Your Holy Name!

Photo by Sander Sammy