These Times, These Days

“But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.” (2 Timothy 3:1-4). 

In his letter to Timothy, the Apostle Paul lays out a very detailed account of conditions that will actually take place during the “last days.” It’s as if Paul was writing in the 21st century in which we are currently living, instead of A.D. 67 the date when he wrote these things.

Since “All Scripture is breathed out by God” (2 Tim 3:16), our eternal God, who alone knows the future, had to inspire the Apostle to write these things for our learning and application in these present times.

The recent events that took place on January 6, 2021 when an evil mob violently breached the Rotunda of the Halls of Congress at the U.S. Capitol clearly demonstrated the desperate, corrupt, and deceitful nature of humanity. No wonder God declares the following, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.” (Jeremiah 17:9,10). God knows man more than man knows himself. 

It is very obvious that law and order is seriously lacking among mankind. Today, many people stand for nothing and fall for everything. Only a few months ago we witnessed a full display of lawlessness in the states and cities across America. And sadly, the senseless rhetoric by some of our elected officials seemed to encourage and stir up violence and unlawful behavior.

In this sad state of affairs, what can Christians do and how should they react? Perhaps some may even be questioning whether God is in charge. The answer is a definite and resounding YES! The Sovereign God of heaven has always, and will always be in charge. Absolutely nothing takes God by surprise. The Christian’s resource is God’s word wherein He reveals His will and purposes in the world and also how we ought to live and respond. Christians must remain strong in fervent prayer and stick to the principles of holy Scripture.

The Lord Jesus told His disciples, that “lawlessness will be increased.” (Matthew 24:12). And he is cautioning and preparing us for events that are certainly taking place in these times and these days. Let us therefore “be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election.” (2 Peter 1:10). Also, remember the second advent of Jesus Christ is fast approaching. Hebrews 10:37 says “For, Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay.”

In these times and these days, Christians need to shelter in God’s providential care, love, mercy, grace, and faithfulness . We are living in a critical moment of time where “political correctness” seems to be the order of the day. And also those who are turning truth into lies with the result that right becomes wrong and wrong becomes right. 

The god of this age, who is Satan, has certainly deceived the minds of those who turn away from God, and caused them to become unprincipled and depraved. It reminds us of what the Scripture says when there was no king in Israel, “Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” (Judges 17:6). Isn’t the same thing that’s happening today?