The Last Days

"But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people."

~2Timothy 3:1-5

There is no doubt we live in perilous times. Every day, war in the Middle East looms closer. Terrorism, violence, crime, and all types of evil surround us. Those things, however, have always been with us. We are a people of war, and since Cain killed Able, we've continued that vein. We've gone from sticks, rocks, and swords to some pretty impressive weapons. Our ability to kill each other one-on-one has reached new proportions, but our ability to kill millions with the push of a button has been a real and present danger since WW2 when Hiroshima and Nagasaki were bombed. Our nuclear capabilities are endless. As a people, we are self-destructive. As a race, we are ruthless, murderous, and treacherous. As individuals, we are selfish, self-centered, egotistical, and there is no good thing within us (Romans 3:10).

"For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out (Romans 7:18)."

Our fleshly desires lead us astray. We are like monkeys who see something shiny and have to have it. We chase after impossible goals in search of happiness that we never find. We throw away relationships, marriages, and children because something better and more exciting comes along. We want instant gratification and if we don't get what we want, we have no problem throwing tantrums over it or knocking someone in the head to take it. We live from the outside in, thinking external gratification will bring internal peace. Living externally only brings strife, anger, and unhappiness. We must learn to live from the inside out. No thing, no person or object, can make us happy. Happiness, contentment and peace come from within. When we learn to be happy and content, we have peace. True peace is only found in a relationship with Jesus Christ. All else is glitter. 

"Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. For whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil (1 Peter 3:8-12).”

We are living in the last days, both physically and metaphorically. No one knows when their last breath will be, no one knows when the Lord will return. We can know the time is approaching by the signs we see. If we have heart problems, we can know a heart attack may be imminent; if we constantly drive like we’re on a racetrack, we can know a wreck is in our future; if we drink excessively, we can know our liver is going to give out; there’s ways and means to know if we are living dangerously or excessively. There are also ways and means to know that the Lord is going to return. It’s not a matter of “if” but “when.” Rest assured that no matter when or how you die, you will stand before the Lord God Almighty and answer for how you lived on Earth. The only answer is to be ready at all times.

^“Therefore, God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:9-11).”

Read 2 Kings 16-20

©2018 Marie McGaha