The Danger Of Living In Perilous Times

When we read II Timothy we can easily detect that the apostle Paul was greatly concerned about young Timothy. Let me show you the concern.

IN CHAPTER ONE Paul reminded Timothy that his mother and grandmother had raised him right.

In II Timothy 1:5 Paul says, “When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.”

That is; Paul was saying (paraphrase), “Timothy, in your grandmother and your mother I saw a godliness and a love for God that is unusual.” Then he said, “I believe those same qualities are in you also.”

Illus: In horse language Paul was saying, “Timothy, you are truly a thoroughbred!”

Paul’s words must have been a tremendous encouragement for Timothy as he was reminded he was raised by a godly mother and grandmother. That is; he came from good stock.

This should also be a tremendous encouragement to some of you single parents as you struggle to raise a child without the help of a companion. Paul did not say anything about Timothy’s father, but he had nothing except good things to say about his mother and grandmother.

IN CHAPTER TWO he reminds Timothy that God RAISED HIM UP FOR A PURPOSE. What was the purpose?

Look at II Timothy 2:3. We read, “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.”

WHY WAS HE TO BE A GOOD SOLDIER?

Paul knew Timothy would have no easy job ahead of him as he preached the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ! He would have to be a tough soldier who could endure.

IN CHAPTER THREE Paul gives a picture of things to come.

Look at verses 1-5. We read, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”

These things are to come in the last days. As we examine this passage let us look at TWO important things. First, look at...

I. THE WICKEDNESS.

Paul’s list of nineteen things describe the wickedness in the world before Christ returns for His Church.

When we see “LAST DAYS” the Bible is speaking of that time from the conception of the New Testament Church until the Lord’s return for His church.

There are those who would remind us that the list of eighteen things that Paul spoke of can be found in every generation. This is exactly what the Bible said would happen.

We read, “This know also, that in the last days perilous (dangerous) days shall come.”

Yes, these things have always been in the world, since sin entered, but WE BELIEVE WE ARE LIVING IN THE LAST OF THE LAST DAYS because never before, in the history of the last days, have ALL these things been so prevalent AT ONE TIME.

If Paul could have taken a “quantum leap” two thousand years beyond his time he could not have described the age in which we live any better than he did in II Timothy 3.

One of the reasons we know the Bible is the inspired Word of God is because God inspired men to write of things long before they ever took place. For example:

Illus: Many folks do not know that Isaiah 53, which gives us a vivid picture of how Christ would come, was written seven hundred years before Christ was born.

How can God do that?

He can do it because He is the Creator of all things, including time. All creation is subject to Him and He knows everything that will happen. Our text is a testimony of that. God told Paul what was coming almost two thousand years before it happened. Paul knew exactly how conditions would be in the last days before Christ returned for His church.

Notice, when Paul was shown these things, he proclaimed, “...perilous times shall come.”

You can see that Paul did not know anyone like Robert Schuller from whom he could take a course on POSITIVE THINKING. If he had, he would have been told, “IF YOU THINK BAD THINGS, BAD THINGS WILL HAPPEN TO YOU.”

Paul knew the God of heaven controls the events of life, not his POSITIVE or NEGATIVE THOUGHTS. Paul put down what God showed him -- that PERILOUS TIMES WOULD COME!

He did not say that they “might” come. He stated positively, “...PERILOUS TIMES SHALL COME.”

Look at the list of the evil characteristics of men. Look at what is FIRST on the list -- “FOR MEN SHALL BE LOVERS OF THEIR OWN SELVES...”