2 Timothy 3:1 But understand this, that in the last days will come (set in) perilous times of great stress and trouble [hard to deal with and hard to bear]. 2 For people will be lovers of self and [utterly] self-centered, lovers of money and aroused by an inordinate [greedy] desire for wealth, proud and arrogant and contemptuous boasters. They will be abusive (blasphemous, scoffing), disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy and profane. 3 [They will be] without natural [human] affection (callous and inhuman), relentless (admitting of no truce or appeasement); [they will be] slanderers (false accusers, troublemakers),intemperate and loose in morals and conduct, uncontrolled and fierce, haters of good. 4 [They will be] treacherous [betrayers], rash, [and] inflated with self-conceit. [They will be] lovers of sensual pleasures and vain amusements more than and rather than lovers of God. 5 For [although] they hold a form of piety (true religion), they deny and reject and are strangers to the power of it [their conduct belies the genuineness of their profession]. Avoid [all] such people [turn away from them].
Lately God has been showing me that His time is near, we are in the last days and the hardest thing His own are going to have to endure is persecution for their faith. Persecution will come to those who are serving God wholeheartedly. If you are not or have not been persecuted you might question where you are walking.
Matthew 10:22 And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake, but he who perseveres and endures to the end will be saved [from spiritual disease and death in the world to come]. AMPC
Obviously from these warnings things are going to get treacherous, scary times are coming our way and the only way to get through them will be to tighten your relationship with God. Get committed to Him and be willing to do whatever it takes to be right with Him.
Even to know His return is at hand we have to be seeking God daily for HIs guidance . God only shares His secrets with those who are His own, those who continually seek Him to find Him. God then can empowers those who look to Him and that is exactly how we will endure all that is to come.
He will deliver us
2 Timothy 3: 11 Persecutions, sufferings—such as occurred to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra, persecutions I endured, but out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12 Indeed all who delight in piety and are determined to live a devoted and godly life in Christ Jesus will meet with persecution [will be made to suffer because of their religious stand]. ampc
Understand though that it is going to take effort on your part, you have to make the choice—that choice is not made for you. You have to choose to follow God, and that means you have to be wiling to obey every single thing God tells you to do, even if someone else doesn’t like it. If you give in and compromise the Word of God because of what someone else thinks, rather than do what God told you to do, you won’t be saved.
I didn’t say it, Jesus did, you read it, Jesus said,” those who endure, till the end.”
Matthew 10:22 And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake, but he who perseveres and endures to the end will be saved [from spiritual disease and death in the world to come]. AMPC
So no matter what they do to us we have to stand our ground—we have to determine to have faith, and in doing so God will deliver us.
True Religion
2 Timothy 3: 5 For [although] they hold a form of piety (true religion), they deny and reject and are strangers to the power of it [their conduct belies the genuineness of their profession]. Avoid [all] such people [turn away from them]. AMPC
Many seem like they are Christians, in fact most people call themselves Christians because they think that is the thing that will save them, but that is the farthest thing from truth!
To endure we will have to sort through those in our lives who are undermine God or are estranged from God. Who we hang out with shouldn’t be those who don’t honor God, but those who love God and are in are in a love relationship with God. We need to encourage each other in this treacherous time that determines where we will spend our eternity. If we let those who undermine our faith infect us —we won’t endure to the end.
I encourage you to examine the remainder of 2 Timothy 3 where we can take a clear look at those we should be turning from.
Let God show you any changes you need to make in this perilous time. We have to have a clear understanding of Satan’s undermining through those who are not in Christ. Now I did not tell you to leave your husband, wife, or any other relationship, I said let God show you how to sort through those in your life who undermine your faith, let Him determine those who are a hinderance to your walk with the Him!