"Living in the Last Days" (2 Timothy 3:1)

We have morning news programs where the news anchor says, "Good morning," and then goes on to tell us why it's not! Today, you and I live in one of the most dangerous and anxiety driven times in humanity's existence. And the perilous, overwhelmingly violent events that were declared to visit the world just before the return of the Lord Jesus Christ are here and growing in severity every day! Sticking our heads in the sand and ignoring the reality of these times is not a helpful way to face these times! Biblical faith in and dependence on God is a desperate need of the Christ follower as we find ourselves in these very difficult times! In order to encourage and strengthen us, Paul gives Timothy and us a dose of reality about the times in which we live. The apostle Paul had these words to say to every follower of Jesus Christ. "But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come" (2 Tim 3:1). The phrase "in the last days" refers to the present time, the time since the first coming of the Lord Jesus until His return. The phrase "difficult times" is used to describe the savage and brutal nature of the two demon-possessed men in Matthew's gospel (Mt 8:28). Paul is saying that these times are here. This is confirmed by the daily news broadcasts! The Bible teaches that these savage and dangerous times will increase in frequency as well in severity as the return of Jesus Christ approaches. What about the Christ follower? God wants us to continue to attain His purpose for our lives in spite of these times. God wants the time that we spend with Him to be a place where we are enabled to deal with these last days with His power and not our own. God wants the time that we spend with Him to be a place that's free from anxiety and care. God wants the time that we spend with Him to be a place where He though invisible, becomes a conscious reality. God wants the time that we spend with Him to make us to be more God-inside minded! This is to be the experience of the Christ follower in the last days! This is the purpose of God for His church in the last days! Praise God forevermore! Your move. Be encouraged!