IN THE LAST DAYS
Read 2 Timothy 3:1.
Having discussed how to handle difficult people within the church body (whether true believers or not), Paul proceeds to paint a landscape of the difficult times that lie ahead for Timothy and those living in the “last days”[1]. In other words, if Timothy thought it was bad now, just wait. As one commentator has noted, “Opposition to the truth would grow even more intense.” (Lea) The phrase “difficult times” (NAS) or “terrible times” (NIV) literally means “hard to take” or “hard to bear”. These would be times requiring much perseverance, endurance, and strength as the truth would come under severe attack.
I would like to suggest that we live in times that are “hard to bear” when the truth seems to be under attack from many different directions. “Tolerance” is a byword of our culture and anything or anyone who claims to have a lock on the truth invites persecution and ridicule. Pope Benedict XVI (despite what one feels about Catholicism) stated at a youth rally last year:
“Some today argue that respect for freedom of the individual makes it wrong to seek truth, including the truth about what is good. In some circles to speak of truth is seen as controversial or divisive, and consequently best kept in the private sphere. And in truth’s place — or better said its absence — an idea has spread which, in giving value to everything indiscriminately, claims to assure freedom and to liberate conscience. This we call relativism. But what purpose has a “freedom” which, in disregarding truth, pursues what is false or wrong? How many young people have been offered a hand which in the name of freedom or experience has led them to addiction, to moral or intellectual confusion, to hurt, to a loss of self-respect, even to despair and so tragically and sadly to the taking of their own life?”
Indeed, the dilution of truth or even worse, the non-existence of truth, only leads to an “anything goes” mentality which leads many down a path of misery. And as the pressures of life increase, so also the attraction of “spiritual gurus” attempting to provide what only Christ can. There are “get rich quick” schemes and “miracles on demand” (for a price). They are all too often found within the corridors of Christianity. As we will see in the coming days, these only add to the problem.
How do we remain steadfast in these difficult times? It will be interesting to see how Paul encourages Timothy in the coming weeks as we move further into the letter. For today it is enough to be reminded that we must never let down our guard when it comes to the truth in God’s word. On the whole, times are not going to get better until the day Christ returns. Until that time, we must be very careful to avoid the slippery slope of relativism under the guise of tolerance and acceptance. We must know what we believe and stand firm.
To consider: Do you know what you believe? If not, how will you make a change in this area?
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Home Group Questions
1) What are some different ways people determine or define “truth”? How do you determine what is truth?
2) In your long or short lifetime, have you seen truth becoming more and more difficult to define? If so, how?
3) How have you felt the difficulty that Paul warned of?
4) How, if at all, have you seen truth diluted to the point that no one can know for sure?
[1] The “last days” referred to here may either mean the entire time from the completion of Christ’s redemptive work until his return (cf. Heb. 1:1-2; Acts 2:16-39), or it may mean the last days of this age before the Second Coming of Christ (Matt. 24:3-28; Mk. 13:5-23; 2Thes. 2:3-4, 8-11). The purpose here is not to speculate on the matter, but rather understand that whichever view one holds, times will be perilous ahead. Whether there will be outbreaks of moral decline in history or a progressive worsening of civility as the end approaches, the thrust of Paul’s message is this: “mark this” (NIV), “realize this” (NAS) – terrible times are ahead.