Although we have looked at this
passage of Scripture together on a couple of other occasions
during the last six or seven years we've been on the radio,
I feel it is so necessary and so relevant to our day that I
want us to look at it again. 2 Timothy, Second Timothy chapter 3 is a
description of the last days, or that is, the very last of
the last days, the days preceding the Lord Jesus Christ's return
to this earth. And based upon God's Word, what
we read here, and observing the times that we live in, I believe
we are living in those very last of the last days. This is so
very descriptive of the day that we live in. And as we look at
this, I want you to consider with me that this is speaking
not only of the immoral or irreligious world at large, but it also speaks
of the religious. Because down in verse 5 it says
they have a form of godliness, that is, religion or profession
of religion or faith. And down in verse 13 of the same
chapter he speaks of evil men and seducers, that is, preachers,
false prophets. 2 Timothy 3, beginning with verse
1, this is the instruction of an old, wise apostle to a young
preacher named Timothy. It gives many, many instructions
to him from God in the first couple of chapters and the previous
letter. And here also in verse 1 of chapter
3, he says, This know also, this consider also, keep this in mind,
that in the last days perilous times shall come, in the very
last perilous, that means dangerous times. Dangerous times. Not only dangerous physically,
that is, violence is rampant, but the perils to a person spiritually. Spiritual perils. Because, as
I said, there are so many false prophets out there in the world.
Religion is very popular now. And the Lord said this would
happen, that many false prophets would arise and go out into the
world. Verse 2, he said, Men shall be lovers of their own
selves. In the last days, men shall be
lovers of their own selves. Men love themselves. They think
very highly of themselves. for themselves. Clearly seeing
out there in the world how much men and women love themselves. But also in religion. As I said, this is speaking of
not only the irreligious world, but the religious world. In religion,
oh, how men and women love themselves. Self-will. Self-rule. Self-seeking. Self-glory. Lovers are their own selves.
Covetous, he said. Men shall be covetous in the
last day and never get enough. Covetous. Covetous. I recently heard of the death
of a very rich man, a very famous rich man, who they said had upwards
of $18 billion. $18 billion. I thought to myself, the man
could keep $1 billion of that $18 billion for himself and give
away $17 billion. And I sat down and figured it
out. The medium price of a home today
is $200,000. He could have purchased 80,000
homes and still had a billion dollars left over. Greedy. Greedy. Can't get enough. getting
up, covetous, boasters, boasters. Oh, how men, women, and young
people boast of their wisdom, their power, their beauty, their
accomplishments, and in religion, how they boast of their free
will and their works for Jesus. It is an abomination to God.
He goes on to say they are proud, that is, proud of their accomplishments,
proud of themselves, proud of their sins, men and women and
young people boast of their wickedness. And especially, as I said, in
religion, how they boast of their works for the Lord. They are
so proud that the Lord said that many will say unto him in that
day, standing before the very judgment throne of Christ himself,
And they will say, ìWhy, we did many wonderful works in your
name, in Jesusí name.î Only to have him say, ìI never knew you.î
Well, theyíre proud. Theyíre blasphemers. Blasphemy means to dishonor God. violate God's glory and God's
honor and God's name, never has there been a more blasphemous
day than now. God's name is on everyone's lip
as a curse word, a byword. Whenever someone is surprised
by something, they say, Oh God. Have you ever noticed that? That
is taking God's name in vain. Scripture says, God says, he
will not hold them guiltless who takes his name in vain. To take his name in vain is to
use it in any way that is not glorifying to him and worshipful
and reverence and fear. Fear. David said, unite our hearts
to fear thy name, to fear using it in a way that it would not
be honoring to thee. We don't use one another's names
in such a fashion. We wouldn't dare use our father
or mother's name, would we? But yet, this is a sign of the
last days. Men, women, and children, God's
name is on their lips. And nowhere is God's name more
blasphemed than in religion. Everything they do is in the
name of God. But yet, it's not God's work. It's
not for God's glory. So the blasphemers read on disobedient
to parents. The last day, the very last day,
children will be absolutely unruly, disobedient to parents, no respect
at all for authority. I blame this on the parents. If there is no discipline, there
is no obedience. The rod is refused today, and
the scripture says, God who is wisdom says, spare the rod, spoil
the child. Men or women in this modern day
think themselves to be wiser than God. What do we have? A bunch of unruly children. I blame it on parents, and I
blame the lack of discipline on the pulpit. That's where it
starts. If God in all his sovereign glory and power and authority
is not truly declared, from the pulpit and it will trickle on
down, this disobedience, lack of authority. Disobedient to
parents, unthankful. Now, men and women need no other
reason to so-called go to church, that is, go to the house of God,
than to thank God for everything they are and have. Because what
do we have? We have not received. That is
from God's hand. Man can receive nothing except
it be given him from above, John the Baptist said. Everything
we are and have is by the grace, or that is the gift of God, freely
given to us. The air we breathe, the clothes
we wear, the homes we live in, the food we eat, the water we
drink, the jobs we have, the families we have, given to us
freely by God Almighty. But he says, in the last days,
men will be unthankful. Unthankful. Unthankful, and it
says unholy. Unholy. Very few truly God-fearing
people today. Very few people whose lives truly
are according to biblical principles. Verse 3 says, without natural
affection. This is not only speaking of
homosexuality. It speaks of those parents who
will give up their very child, their offspring, into the hands
of perfect strangers so that they can have a new car or a
new house or material things. That is not natural affection. An animal won't even give up
its young until they are able to fend for themselves. My, my,
without natural affection, truce breakers. That is, covenants
and contracts. Ridiculous. Used to be a man's
word meant something. Not anymore. Not even a piece
of paper with his name signed to it won't mean a thing. You
can get out of it. False accusers, it says. In the last days, false accusers.
Gossip is the rule today. Not the exception, it's the rule.
Slander is sport. There's so many talk shows on
And why is that? Because that's what people love
to sit and do, listen to people talk about others. False accusers,
incontinent, that is, unable to contain their passions. Fierce, violent, despisers of
those that are good, that is, those who truly hold godly principles,
morals, and scruples are hated and maligned. Old-fashioned,
ridiculous, despisers of those that are good. Verse 4 says,
traitors, traitors, heady, high-minded, that is, they are unfaithful
to anyone, heady, cuffed up with a sense of their own vainglory,
high-minded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. Men and women, what will a man
give in exchange for his soul? What would a man give in exchange
for his eternal soul? Well, he'll give about anything.
Anything. Any ridiculous pursuit in this
world, he'll give it. Lovers of pleasure more than
lovers of God. Verse 5 says, Yet they have a
form of godliness. Well, that is. They are religious
in form only. In outward form. They show up
on Sunday morning or sometimes. or Easter or Christmas or Mother's
Day or whatever, a form of God. Now, I believe God. I had a woman
tell me that one time, and I know for a fact that she never worshiped
God, never went to hear the Word of God preached, never went to
worship with God's people, worship and hear the gospel. That is
what a true believer does. and loves to do. It's not a form,
it's not a habit, it's Christ and the worship of God and His
gospel is life to the true believer. She said to me, Oh, I believe
in God. I believe in God. Well, I have
a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof. Not only denying,
not only do religious people deny the sovereign power of God,
but their lives reveal that there's been no true conversion, no powerful
work of God in the heart and the soul, which causes us to
hate sin, deny self, love God's glory, His worship, love His
truth, love His Son, love His people. No, they're led by false
preachers. That's why, who themselves deny
God in the name of God. And verse 6 says, Of this sort
are they which creep into houses. How do they creep into houses?
By radio and television. Creep into houses. Lead captive
silly women laden with sins, led away with different lusts.
Lead captive widows. They devour widows' houses, our
Lord said, ever learning and ever coming to a knowledge of
the truth. That is, they have a Bible, but
they don't know what the truth is. descriptions are a clear picture
of a day in which we live in. May God open your eyes to see the
day that we live in and call upon Him to deliver you from
this perilous day and this untoward generation is my prayer until
next Sunday. Amen. Thank you.