Christian life

Stay the Course

On January 21, 2021 by Anna De Lay

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!

2 Timothy 3:1-5

It is no secret that every sin mentioned in this passage and more are happening in our world today. Troublesome times are upon us. From the perversions coming from Hollywood to the hatefulness of family, friends, and strangers behind the veil of a screen; abortion and the selling of baby parts; sex trafficking all over the world; persecution and genocides in third world countries; euthanasia on the rise; wars, famine, disease, corrupt governments, terrorism; and lastly, the denial of biblical truths…these are indeed perilous times!

I am reminded of what Jesus warned about in Matthew 24: And because iniquity shall be multiplied, the love of many shall wax cold. We are seeing this on a massive scale. Paul’s warning to Timothy to avoid such people is a message for Christians today not to be unequally yoked with people of this nature. Do not walk arm and arm with those who have rejected God, His majesty, and His Word. For what business do children of light have with darkness?

As evil men and impostors…grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived (3:13), we may be asking ourselves, “What are we as Christians to do?” The Apostle Paul answers this question in his second letter to Timothy:

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. But you, be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

2 Timothy 4:2-5

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Preach.

Paul instructed Timothy to preach the word, regardless of what was going on around him, regardless of what other people were doing or whether they wanted to hear the truth or not. We know that in the last days, people will resist the truth. Many will not endure sound teaching. Instead, they will follow after teachers who will only tell them what they want to hear. In fact, people will willingly turn away from the Truth. As heartbreaking as it is to see people turn their backs on God, we must not be deterred from the mission of the Gospel. Keep speaking, keep proclaiming, keep pointing people to Christ.

Be ready at all times.

Other versions say: Be instant in season and out (KJV), and be urgent (ASV). Obedience is key. Do not delay. Our heavenly Father commands us to be ready–ready to speak, ready to go, willing to obey–whatever He asks of us, whether we feel like it or not. Simply get up, be obedient, and stay diligent. Now is not the time for Christians to be complacent and take our ease in Zion. We have work to do. The world is not lacking in its love for sinful pleasure; we should not slack when it comes to knowing the Word and keeping it always before us. We must be ready to give an answer of the hope we have within.

Reprove, rebuke, and exhort.

All scripture is God-breathed and profitable for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

When we have the Word of God in the forefront of our minds and hearts, we are able to help people cast off their former chain of sin and grow up in Christ, equipping them for ministry. We do this in love and with patience, teaching the truth from the scriptures. This is the call of every Christian.

I love how Paul is explaining what ungodly people will do in the last days and how he immediately turns Timothy’s attention back to what he needed to be doing. But you. The world is gonna do what the world is gonna do, but what you need to do is…

Be watchful.

Watchful means “sober”. Many times in his writings, Paul instructs the church to be sober minded. If we think of this in the natural, we think of a sober person as one who does not drink, therefore thinking more clearly and without stumbling. Spiritually speaking, we are to live a disciplined life, alert to what the Spirit is doing, but also aware of the devil’s wicked schemes. In 1 Thessalonians 5:6-8, Paul tells us that we are not of the darkness, so we should not sleep spiritually, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.

Endure suffering.

We know that in this life, there will be troubles. We will have heartache. We may suffer persecution. In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. (2 Timothy 3:12). Yet we must hold tight to the promises of God: He will never leave us or forsake us… He is preparing a place for us that where He is, we will also be… His love will never fail us. His mercies are new each and every day…  We are the head and not the tail… We are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus… No weapon formed against us shall prosper… In our weakness, He is made strong.

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all (2 Corinthians 4:17).

Evangelize.

This word may stir up the image of a well-dressed guy in slick shoes travelling and preaching from place to place. But truly, we are all evangelists. We can share the good news with our families first and foremost, then our neighbors, friends, coworkers, strangers…anyone who will hear. We don’t need a pulpit to preach the Gospel. God has called us to preach where we are with whatever platform we’ve got. The rest is up to Him. It doesn’t have to be perfect.

Fulfill your ministry.

Other versions say, “Make full proof of your ministry” or “Do your work well”. Each believer has a calling of God on their life to proclaim the Gospel, and each of us is commanded in whatever we do to do it whole-heartedly unto the Lord. Let us each strive to do all that the Lord commands in every aspect of our lives.

Prayer

Father, as we continue to see the world grow more wicked by the day, help Your people remain steady on the course You have laid out for us. Help us walk with You daily, and be a light to our families and those around us–ready and willing to reach out with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, though trouble and persecution may follow. In the days ahead, give Your people the strength and courage to pursue a life of godliness in the midst of a darkened world. Amen.