Is Today the Exception?

Scripture: But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God - having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people. 2 Timothy 3:1-5

Observation: Yesterday, we saw that Paul taught Timothy how to interact with foolish people who have embraced sin and turned from God. And the VERY next thing Paul says is ... In the "last days" those foolish people will become so bad that there will be "terrible times" and Timothy should "have nothing to do with such people."

All of these warnings are about characteristics that revolve around one phrase: self worship. People will love themselves, boast proudly, love the things that make then feel good ... lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. After telling Timothy how to engage with people on the wrong path, he then implies that these people are beyond hope. (From a pure literary interpretation perspective, the phrase "But mark this" would clearly mean that what follows is specifically aligned as an exception to what preceded.)

Application: Between a self-love that says sin that "makes me happy" is now the definition of love, and a society that has created tools to boast publicly, and clearly no concern about any type of self control ... again, our times align to the last days. I am left with a challenge of understanding what to do. Yesterday, there was a model for how to engage with society. Today, there is the message that says, "But you who live in the last days, don't engaged with such people, as it is hopeless."

Prayer: Lord, I can pray for everyone - those who oppose you, and those just so incredibly lost - for them to find the love and peace of Jesus. However, maybe it is just time for Jesus to return. If it is your will, let's celebrate! I have read the final chapter, and I know you win. Please ... come Lord Jesus. Amen.