But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness, but denying its power. And from such people turn away. 2 Timothy 3: 1-5, NKJV.
Father, today we are once more in Your presence to thank You for Your goodness toward us, in teaching us Your will, as we study Your Word. In the precious name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
Today we come to the last group of end-time behaviors. This is the group under the title of, Spiritual. I chose this title for the last group because the behaviors listed here are contrary to the very nature of God. So are all the others we have seen so far. However, while the other behaviors were influenced by rationalizing, and emotional reactions to situations in life, these behaviors seemed to stem from a direct breakdown in a spiritual connection with God. Even though this is the last group we are considering, this group is perhaps the starting point for many, if not all, of the other behaviors.
The first behavior we will look at is: Unholy. God Himself, declared that He is holy, and encourages us to be holy “in our sphere”* because He is holy (Leviticus 11: 44. 45). Speaking to His special people God said, “You must distinguish between the holy and the common, between the unclean and the clean” (Leviticus 10:10). This behavior is in direct opposition to His command. Unloving. “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love” (John 4: 8). Emphasis provided. If we are a people getting ready to inherit the kingdom, should we not know God? After all, our eternal life consists of knowing God (John 17: 3)! And if we know Him and love Him, it will show. It is also the sign by which we will be known as followers of Christ ( John 13: 35). Unforgiving. “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (John 3: 23). So we all need forgiveness! If we are to walk as Christ walked (1 John 2: 6); and if we are to have the mind of Christ (Philippians 2: 5), then it means we must develop the virtue of forgiveness. Besides, if we are not willing to forgive others, Christ will not forgive us (Matthew 6: 15). The true follower of Christ will possess a forgiving spirit.
Lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. The Word of God reminds us, “Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also it will be in the days of the Son of Man. People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all. It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulphur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all” (Luke 17: 26-29, NIV). In, and of themselves, there is nothing wrong with these activities, at first glance. But if we are not careful, these secular things can crowd out spiritual things from our lives. Therefore, we have the warning, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John 2: 15).
Having a form of godliness, but denying its power. We ask why the church has no power. I believe if we know who is the church, the answer to that question will be quite evident. We are the church. And the church is as strong as its members. If we, are filled with power (Acts 1: 8)*, the church will have power to finish the work that the LORD has asked us to do. But if our strength is used to destroy each other, we will not be empowered to finish the work. The church must not only look like the church of God, but it must also act like the church of God! A form is not enough. It must be accompanied by the power.
May God help us!