In his last letter, Paul writes to Timothy to encourage and give him final instructions concerning the church. Paul warns him of tough times ahead when depraved men and women would turn from truth. He stresses Timothy should always be mindful, it is coming. You must understand this (2 Tim 3:1 NRSV). The grammar shows understanding must be a continuous daily practice, and it is more than advice; it is a command. The word Paul chooses for ‘understanding’ is not merely a casual intellectual fact. It means absolute understanding by experience and comprehension. Other writers use this word referring to sexual relations between a husband and wife (Mat 1:25, Luk 1:34).
Paul then instructs him about what he must be mindful. In the last days difficult times will come. Many take last days as the time just prior to the return of Christ. However, the phrase means much more. Last days comes from a phrase used throughout the Old Testament. We have been living in the last days since the cross of Christ. In these last days has spoken to us in His Son (Heb 1:2). In the last days mockers will come (2 Pet 3:3). Peter quotes Joel on the day of Pentecost; this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel: ‘and it shall be in the last days,’ God says, ‘that I will pour forth of My Spirit . . . (Act 2:16,17). The word Paul used for times isn’t chronological time, rather it refers to seasons. He is warning, not only Timothy, but all believers throughout the church age that they will experience seasons of perilous, cruel, harsh, and violent periods. The seasons will come and go but with ever increasing wickedness until the final season prior to Christ’s return. Obviously, we are living in the beginning of one of these seasons and possibly the final.
Christians today must also heed to this admonition seeing it in the context of the times in which we live. Sadly, many Christians believe this is an age of prosperity and blessing. Believers have been lolled into a false sense of security because we have lived in a time of peace for the church. Remember, seasons come, and seasons go. Paul then gives 18 characteristics of the last days. Space doesn’t allow me to discuss each of them. Write them down and cross reference each one as you watch, read, or listen to the news. These characteristics are like a picture painted with words of society today. One writer says, “You see, we are living in an age when it is dangerous for men to live for God. Those who practice righteousness are called intolerant, bigoted, narrow minded, anti-social and are labeled dangerous. While those who practice deviant, sinful lifestyles are praised and labeled heroes by society. These are indeed very dangerous days!” (Sermon Notebook).
You might be saying to yourself, “This isn’t a very encouraging Sustaining Word.” The focus of this SW is to give a word that will help sustain you through the difficult and dangerous season ahead. As with Timothy, we must constantly understand and know what is occurring in our society. This knowledge must be more than casual information we read or hear about the world around us. In Jesus final discourse to the Apostles, He gave them a stern warning about the hatred they would be facing. These things I have spoken to you so that you may be kept from stumbling (Joh 16:1). We, just as Timothy, need to understand the nature of the last days so we wouldn’t become discouraged and stumble. Jesus said when teaching about the last days, because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold (Mat 24:12).
Note three of the outstanding characteristics that identify these wicked seasons. For men will be (v2) … unloving (v3). This means “without natural affection” and refers to parents who do not love their children or to children who hate their parents. When Paul wrote this to Timothy, parents abandoned thirty to forty children in the Roman forum every night. Headline this week: SC man accused of killing his 5 children; mother is in jail accused of killing her son; 2-Week-Old Beaten to Death by Parents. In the last days children will be disobedient to parents. Headlines: boy, 9, charged with killing mother; 27-year-old man was charged Friday in the killings of his parents
Paul writes the 18 characteristics in a literary form called a chiasm. The middle word is the central issue. In this list it is men will be . . . malicious gossips. This word is diabolos, which we normally translate devil. Understanding the application challenged me for a time until I examined the full meaning of the word and realized how prominent it is around the world today. It means slanderers, or false accusers. If someone a hundred years from now researched our history, they might conclude this was an age of accusers. My parents taught me when someone loses an argument, they begin calling people names having nothing left with which to prove their point. They accuse other people or situations; it is always someone else’s fault, but they never take responsibility for their actions. In the last days men will be . . . false accusers, slanders, blamers, name callers, or devils.
Sustaining Word for the Week: Don’t be discouraged: When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near (Lk 21:28 NIV).