The Last Days

               Times always seem to change. They seem to get worse instead of better even though we gain more knowledge as the days go by. I grew up in the era of people building bomb shelters with the fear of a possible nuclear explosion. Our news came on the black and white Television and was strictly reporting what had happened. There was no commentary. We could also learn the price of beans and corn from Chicago. It is the nuclear age, so to speak and people began to think about events that could destroy the world should two super powers get into a tussle over something. Could things get any worse? Well, they did. I wasn't reading my Bible that much in the 50's but as the days went by, I became more aware of what the Scriptures said. Second Timothy 3:1-2 says, “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,”

         This is only the first two verses of five that describe the manner of people in the world today. There seems to have been a shift in character as people's eyes turned more on themselves than on others. If you could sit on a bench in a mall on a Saturday night you would see so many things that fulfilled the words of this passage of Scripture just by observing the people as they pass by. The Apostle Paul was right in his day and the words of his exhortation are certainly more true today than ever before. We can see Satan's tactics from several passages in the Bible beginning at Genesis when three avenues of temptation were introduced. They are the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. All three examples were used in the Garden of Eden. Then, we see the same thing happening in Matthew 4 and Luke 4 during the temptation of the Lord Jesus Christ in the wilderness. Then, the Apostle John speaks about in in First John 2. The same three avenues are still at work today just as they were in Genesis and with the Lord Jesus Christ. The are alive today because Satan knows they work with the characters of men and women in the world in which we live. Moses was right in his writings. Jesus was right in His statements. Paul was right in his writings. The Bible is right in each and every word it says. In the last days, perilous times shall come and they are here. The believer however, has hope and that hope is founded in the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. When the world around you looks full of despair, you just need to turn to the promises of God. They are everywhere throughout the Bible itself. “He shall direct your paths.” “The work began in you will one day be finished.” “You are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.” “God has a way out of every temptation.” “The Lord Jesus Christ will come again.” “Even though you die, you will stand before your redeemer and see Him face to face.” “He will never leave us nor forsake us.” “He is my Shepherd.” Even though the characteristics of this culture today is reflecting the perilous times in which we live, we still have hope in the Mighty God of the universe Who loved us so much that He sent His Son to die for our sins. Praise God that we still have the best hope of all, Christ Himself.