In 2 Timothy 3:1-5, we read, “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” (ESV). (All emphasis is mine.)
In the very next chapter, we read, “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths” (2 Timothy 4:3-4).
Today, we’re hearing of more and more so-called pastors who are “tweaking” messages that are intended to ensure the audiences leave with a good feeling about their current lifestyles. Never mind that no true Bible backs what they are saying. It came from the persons in the pulpit, so it must be true – right? Just keep the seats and collection plates filled.
Paul’s statement in 2 Timothy 4:7-8 is what we all should strive for. “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth, there is laid up for me the Crown of Righteousness, which the Lord, the Righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.”
Please understand that there is no one today who is sinless, and this includes even the most “righteous-appearing” people. There has only ever been one sinless human to live on this earth, and He will be the only one all the way to the end of this earth’s existence.
Romans 3:10: “As it is written, none is righteous, no not one.” Going to Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God.”
Romans 6:23 tells us, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” And this is further explained in Ephesians 2:8-9: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works so that no one may boast.”
If we are to boast, then we need to follow Jeremiah 9:23-24: “Thus says the Lord, let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts, boast in this, that he understands, and knows Me; that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.”
Going to 1 Corinthians 1:31: “so that as it is written, let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” This is repeated in 2 Corinthians 10:17-18: “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord. For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.”
Our Heavenly Father has provided us His Holy Word through the Holy Spirit-inspired writers. In 2 Peter 1:20-21, we read, “Knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever provided by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”
When the Father provides us His inspiring words, they’re all worth taking note of. When He repeats words, we need to take special note of them.
We have a loving, forgiving and merciful Heavenly Father that shows us His patience, as He wants no one to fail. He would love for everyone to receive and accept His Son as their eternal Savior so we are able to reach repentance (2 Peter 3:9).
God will force no one to receive and accept His Son, Jesus the Christ. It’s a free will choice that every person must make for themselves. Satan and his demons are doing all they can to turn souls away from our Savior. Their eternal destiny is set, as they will be cast into the lake of fire forever, which was created especially for them (Matthew 25:41). They do not have a pathway to forgiveness as humans do.
When our Savior said, “It Is Finished” in John 19:30, He was declaring that the sinless blood offering required by our Heavenly Father was fulfilled once for all sin. His pure blood sacrifice reached back to the beginning of this earth’s creation, and goes all the way forward to the end of this earth’s existence. No longer would the blood of animals be accepted even as a temporary offering for sin.
When He arose that third day, He had conquered sin and death for all who would become a part of His precious flock. As our Savior stated in Matthew 7:13-14, this left only two pathways into eternity: the broad wide path leading to eternal condemnation, and the straight and narrow leading to eternal life.
The steps to be on that straight and narrow path are found in Romans 10:9-13. The hard part that Jesus spoke of is to believe that there is nothing else required for our Salvation. They believe there has to be works or contributions on their part to earn or buy their way into Heaven. They do not realize this is insulting to our Heavenly Father.
Actually, the first step is to admit that we’re all sinners and cannot save ourselves. We must believe that Jesus came to this earth as a human, lived a sinless life, and provided the only sacrifice that could totally cover all our sins. Our Savior was taken back to Heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. All who truly call on Him to forgive them and be their eternal Savior will be saved.
Once we have Jesus as our Savior, we will still be subject to sin, and the Father knows this. He has provided a pathway to forgiveness, as found in 1 John 1:8-10: “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.”
We need to strive not to sin, but when, not if, we do, follow the above steps. This does not mean we have a license to just keep on sinning as we did before. Just knowing the pain and agony our Savior went through to give us a pathway to Him should cause us to turn away from habitual sin as much as possible.
The time is approaching when our life on this earth will be over, and either through death or Rapture, we will be with our Savior. We will have new forever immortal bodies, and a mindset like our Jesus, which will not be subject to any sin temptation.
Meanwhile, anyone who has not received and accepted Jesus as their Savior really needs to consider their eternal destination. Once the Rapture takes place, it will become very unpleasant on this earth for any who become a Christian during the Tribulation.
Choosing to become a part of our Savior’s precious flock now would be the most important decision you could ever make. The Father leaves the choice up to you – Choose Wisely!
Shalom!