Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?

The title to today's posting (Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?) comes from the name of a song written by the band CHICAGO. Could be that this song is more prophetic than one may have given credence to .
The next line of this song state, "Does anybody really care?"
Is that the way it is in our town?
Does anybody really stop and think about what time it is according to God's plans?
I'm not here to make any rash predictions or to sound like some Old Testament prophet crying out, "Repent! Repent! The End is Near!"
Although that might not be a bad idea.
The man who usually comes to teach here at Rapha on Fridays is out so I am filling in for him today. During the course of the evening, as I was studying on what to teach, I kept coming back to the third chapter of II Timothy. Paul makes a strong point in the opening words of this chapter by saying, "But know this." Paul is saying pay attention Timothy and understand the time you are living in. Paul describes this time as "In the last days." Much has been made over this and even in our own time whenever something catastrophic happens, pastors, teachers and prophetic voices everywhere began to chorus of "We are living in the last days." Well, duh? You think? I mean every day that passes is one day we are closer to the return of Jesus. As John Wimber use to put it, "I don't know when Jesus is coming back and I don't know if we are in the last days. What I do know is that we are last-er than we have ever been."

Paul tells Timothy that in these last days perilous times will come. Does that mean perilous times for each of us or for us as a group or community? I believe that it means whatever happens will effect each of us. The strange part in this statement is the word "perilous". This word carries the meaning of stressful or oppressive times. If you read the list that follows you see that it is a list of character defects. We are already seeing this list come to light in our own country as the moral fabric of our nation has completely unraveled and each man does according to what he believes is right. We have thrown off the restraints of ethics and God's standard to embrace a self-deluded life of feeding our sin appetite at every turn. Hold nothing back but feed that nature whatever it wants. God help us!

Verse 13 reads: But evil men and imposter's will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.
The love of self will be so strong at this point in history that the norm of the day is to survive by deception. At the same time, those who deceive will become deceived by others. It will be a dog eat dog survival with no regard to the word of God.

Verse 14- But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them.
We cannot fall prey to the behaviors that will be all around us, we must continue in the teaching and leading of God. Funny part in all of this is that if you aren't being taught and you don't know how to hear and follow God, it may be a difficult time. I can see many who claimed to be saved and be a follower of Jesus will fall away because of their own self imposed ignorance. They didn't take the time to study the Word of God. They did not take the time to discipline themselves in learning to follow the Spirit.

Even though II Timothy Chapter 3 begins with a very depressing message, Paul leaves us with hope at the end of the chapter.
V.16-17 - All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete thoroughly equipped for every good work.
This Bible, this word of God will enable us, along with the working of the Holy Spirit, to become a complete person....
One that is not just ready for what ever happens, but is thoroughly equipped (that means we have at our disposal everything we need to survive these last days) to do the good works that God has put before them.

God on you..........
mb