Watch for Danger Areas
2 Timothy 3:1-9 (page 843)
Introduction:
Have you ever watched “Funniest Home Videos” or one of those shows like that and you knew what was going to happen? You look at the guy trying to jump a moving car and say, “Hey, buddy that’s a bad idea.” When the old gentleman starts to get on the pogo stick you think, “Here comes another hip replacement.” As the guy starts his 4 wheel drive up the steep rocky incline you know that this is going to roll over a dozen times.
And you almost never see or hear their friends say, “Have you thought this through? Really, man, if you do this have you ever considered how dangerous the ending can be?”
Video of tree cutting
You want to scream at that guy, “If you do that you’re gonna die! Stop!!!”
In this journey we call life there are some danger areas. Sometimes in our pride and arrogance we think we can handle them…and God know we can’t. He knows that next spiritual step is going to hurt if we take it.
That’s why our text this morning starts with the words, “But mark this…” It’s the Apostle Paul writing to Timothy who is the Senior Minister at Ephesus. And Paul is saying (the next words need to be bold, italic, and underlined). Get your highlighter out and go over these next words because they are important.
“There will be terrible times in the last days!”
What does Paul mean by the expression “last days”? It can apply to the entire period between the first and second coming of Christ. Since Jesus can return at any time, the entire church age can be called “the last days.”
It also can apply to the period of time immediately preceding the Lord’s return to earth. I think it’s helpful to remember that Jesus used the analogy of a pregnant woman experiencing labor pains. This woman knows she’s about to give birth by the frequency and severity of her labor pains. The closer she is to giving birth the more frequent and severe the pains get.
All these things that the Apostle Paul warns Timothy about in chapter 3 will be present in some form during all generations, but they will increase dramatically near the end of the age. Are we in the last days? No matter how you definite it the answer is, “Yes!”
And what will these days be like? How bad can they be? Paul uses the word “terrible.” This word only occurs here and one other place in the New Testament. Its other occurrence is in Matthew 8:28 where it describes two violent demon possessed men in the region of Gadarenes. They are wild, uncontrollable men who live in the tombs. That’s the same word Paul uses to describe “the last days” in II Timothy 3:1. These days will be fierce, violent, dangerous and frightening.
We’d say it this way, “In the last days, savage times will come as people cast off all moral restraint and society begins to disintegrate.”
Raw Paganism
In 1988 evangelical philosopher and theologian Carl Henry made a stunning prediction in his book “Twilight of a Great Civilization.” He said that as America progressively loses its Judeo-Christian heritage, paganism would grow bolder. What we saw in the last half of the 20th century was a benign humanism, but he predicted that by the start of the 21st century we would have a situation not unlike the 1st century when the Christian faith confronted raw paganism—humanism with the pretty face ripped off, revealing the angry monster underneath. His words have come true…and are coming truer with each passing day.
So Paul is screaming out a warning to Timothy and to us, “After I’m gone, things will get worse. Terrible times are coming. Mark this, watch out, pay close attention and get ready.”
“The Message” translation says, “Don’t be naïve. There are difficult times ahead. As the end approaches people are going to be self-absorbed, money hungry, self-promoting, stuck-up, profane, contemptuous of parents, crude, coarse, dog eat dog, unbending, slanderous, impulsively wild, savage, cynical, treacherous, ruthless, bloated windbags, addicted to lust and allergic to God. They’ll make a show of religion, but behind the scenes they’re animals. Stay clear of these people!”
That’s how…
Perilous Times are Described
That’s a sobering catalogue of corruption. In a sense it’s a shorter version of Romans 1:18-32 which describes the descent of people turning their backs on God.
Basically it’s a total rejection of God. As people become their own gods there is a moral collapse. People become lovers of themselves, not lovers of what is good. Society dissolves because there are no rules, no moral absolutes, no restraints. Everyone does what is right in their own eyes, much like in the time before the flood. And woe to anyone who questions those lifestyle choices. Why does Paul include “disobedient to parents?” Because this spirit of disobedience leaves the home in ashes. Divorce becomes commonplace. Marriage is redefined. Homosexuality is not only tolerated, but made equal.
In light of Biblical prophecy we should expect that as we approach the end times all these things will increase in intensity and frequency, until we have (as the book of Revelation says) the total implosion of the social order as men utterly rebel against God and destroy themselves and the world in the process. Perhaps that is why Jesus said in Matthew 24:22, “Unless those days are shortened, no one would survive.”
But we haven’t even gotten to the bad news yet. That comes in verse 5, “Having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.”
What this means by using the word “form” is that in the last days as people turn away from God paradoxically they will become more religious…not less. Religion will become more popular as we approach the end times because they are seeking refuge in a world that has increasingly lost its way. They will ask the right questions, but follow the wrong answers. It will be religion for religion’s safe, not for the safe of knowing Christ. Maybe they’ll join a church or some religious organization, sing songs, attend services, read books…go through the motions, but their hearts won’t be in it. They will deny the very power they profess to believe with the life they live. They will embrace a post modern religion that allows them to do anything they want, believe what they want and live any way they want so long as it makes them happy. “We don’t need to be bound by those outdated rules of the Bible. They don’t apply to us today.”
What is the command for true believers in Christ in such a society? How does….
II. The Remnant Live in the Last Days?
Verses 6-9 in our text describe how false teachers spread this disease of raw paganism. They prey on weak people. The Greek word means “unstable.” They use guilt and confusion as their weapons.
Paul mentions Jannes and Jambres in verse 8. According to Jewish tradition these were the Egyptian magicians who opposed Moses in the book of Exodus. How did they oppose him? By counterfeiting or duplicating some of the early plagues in the book of Exodus. They used deception and manmade trickery but their success was limited and temporary. They weren’t around for long because God made it clear whose side He’s on. These charlatans were around in Moses’ day, Paul and Timothy’s days, and in ours. But just as the waters parted for Moses and drowned the Egyptians, so the hand of God will rescue His people from their pursuit.
As I end today I want to share three quick survival strategies for God’s remnant in the last days. If this is what we have to look forward to, and it is, how will the remnant survive the savage days that are coming our way?
Verses 10-13 in II Timothy 3 are those survival strategies. 1. Follow Godly leaders. 2. Continue in what you’ve learned and 3. Let the Word of God make you complete.
II Timothy 3:10-13 (p 843)
1. Follow Godly Leaders: this principle is based on the truth that we become like the people we associate with. If we follow the ungodly we become like the ungodly.
Paul uses himself as an example, “Follow me as I follow Christ.” Be my apprentice as I am Christ’s apprentice. You know my way of life. You know my teaching; you know my faith, my love, my patience. You know my sufferings and persecution.
Paul’s point: Find Godly people like this and follow them. It also means you have to open your life to mentor or disciple people who are seeking to be like Christ. Grow to the place where you can be the man or woman someone can follow…”Evil men will grow worse and worse, deceiving others while themselves are being deceived.” The world will have tons of imposters, magicians, charlatans.
Be real as you follow Jesus…so real others can follow you.
2. Continue in what you have learned.
II Timothy 3:14-15 (p. 843)
Stay the course. Stay on track. Don’t be tricked. There is a road map that will guide your next step. It’s the word of God that gives us confidence in the days of difficulty. Timothy, remember your spiritual heritage. “How from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” You mom and grandmother taught them to you.
Everything you need to know to get to heaven is found in the Bible. That’s why our Children’s ministry is so vital, our student ministry, our young adults, our Sunday school and small groups. If you want to stay on track and on course be a part of the remnant who loves the Word of God and holds each other accountable.
And Finally
3. Let the Word of God make you complete (II Timothy 3:16-17 (p.843)
Scripture is God-breathed. That’s a literal translation of the Greek word “theopneustos.” It means that God breathed out the words. The words that Moses, David, the prophets, the apostles and Paul wrote down, God breathed out. It is the highest possible view of scripture. Because the Bible comes directly from God, it equips us to do every good work. It tells us what is right (teaching), what is wrong (rebuking), how to get right (correction), and how to stay right (training in righteousness).
As a result we are thoroughly equipped to do what God wants us to do and be what God wants us to be, no matter how terrible the times are around us.
A soldier needs the right equipment to win the battle. The Bible is the Christian’s sword by which to fight the battles of life, but it does absolutely no good at all if it’s left in the scabbard.
John Wesley once commented on the Bible this way:
“I am a creature of a day, passing through life, as an arrow through the air. I am a spirit come from God, and returning to God: just hovering over the great gulf; till a few moments hence, I am no more seen! I drop into an unchangeable eternity! I want to know one thing, the way to heaven: how to land safe on that happy shore. God himself has condescended to teach the way; for this very end he came from heaven. He has written it down in a book! Oh, give me that book! At any price, give me the book of God! I have it: here is knowledge enough for me. Let me be a man of one book.”
Folks, if you know where the mines are located in the field you can make it safely to the other side!
Let’s pray.
