Why Are We Bothered With Troubles?
The Pot of Sin Stew
2 Timothy 3:1 – 7
At noon, on Wednesday, April 10, 1912, the crowd on the dock was tremendous. Family members and friends of 2201 people, which including the employees themselves, that were going on a trip of a lifetime were waving and cheering. It may have very well been a brisk day in South Hampton, England, as all the people looked upon the ship, which was deemed unsinkable by many. False security was built up to people about this ship. A group of reporters gathered at the New York office of White Star Line and questioned the company’s Vice President, Philip Franklin, when he showed up for work, and he reassured everyone with the following statement. “There is no danger that the Titanic will sink. The boat is unsinkable and nothing but inconvenience will be suffered by the passengers.” Even one of the White Star Employees, who was about to launch out on this trip said, “Not even God Himself can sink this ship.” The fact is there were not many people, including the captain and the ship’s engineers believed that God could sink it either. Four days later, the bright stars were shining down on a wide open sea. It was reportedly 33 degrees, on that cold Sunday night of April 14, 1912, as many of the passengers, who had enjoyed a meal and went on to the dancing, and wining and dining, that usually goes on with these trips. Of course, at 11:00 p.m., many of the people had no doubt gone to bed, to be refreshed the next morning. There had been many warnings about icebergs in this area. “Full steam ahead,” the captain said, “We are making great time.” It is said that they were ahead of schedule on this trip. However, at 11:40 p.m. the ship came to an abrupt stop when it encountered an iceberg that doomed this unsinkable ship. By 2:20 a.m. on Monday, April 15, the ship was sunk and 1,517 people including men, women, and children were all gone.
In the passage of 2 Timothy 3:2, Paul writes, “For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy…” We have established that perilous times will come because of men loving themselves, and because of men’s love for money. However, Paul covers two things that go hand in hand after that. So, in this pot of death stew we are cooking we add boasting and pride. We see that “In the last days, men will be boasters and proud.” Pride has always been a downfall for man. The pride happened when Lucifer told God that he was going to ascend his throne above the Lord’s. He, in fact, had 1/3 of all the angels supporting him. He was cast to the earth, where he controls the lost and makes war with God’s children. Pride got the best of the captain of the Titanic. He thought the ship was unsinkable and invincible. Even though he may not have said it his actions showed it. He found out that his pride ended up costing 1,516 more lives. It wasn’t just his life lost.
America has the same kind of problem today. We are full of pride and boast about the accomplishments that we make. Pride will be the downfall of America. It already is. Many people who call Jesus their Savior have the same pride. We have become complacent in our nation and in our lives. We believe we are invincible too. Pride separates man from God. He cannot work in a person’s life the way HE wants too, when a man is proud. This nation has had many great tragedies happen to it in it’s 200 plus years. Many hurricanes, tornadoes, and natural phenomenons have happened and many lives have been lost. However, we stay with the way we are and the way we live. Pearl Harbor and the twin towers were wake up calls from God, but we return to our sinful ways. I can remember when the nation prayed after 9/11, but less than 2 months we went back to life as we love it. God was, again, put to the side.
Solomon tells us, in Proverbs 6:16 – 19, “These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto HIM: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, an heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, a false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.” Does it surprise you that the seven things start off with pride? I know many people who believe in a Godly pride, but we need to understand that God will not have that which HE hates. There is no such thing. Pride has been the downfall of man since Adam. Adam had to test the Lord, so he could know as much as God. Guess what? He still doesn’t know as much as God and we don’t either.
Humility draws God to us. I am reminded of what the Lord told Solomon when he finished the house of the Lord. Solomon had prayed and dedicated the house of the Lord to the Lord. The Lord said, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sins, and will heal their land,” (2Chronicles 7:14). This applies to all the Christians who have truly accepted Christ as Savior. The Lord specifically addresses this to HIS people. Christians are the ones who are really called by HIS Name. The instructions HE hands out here can only be done with humility. We are instructed to be humble before we pray.
Just like the Titanic, we feel our nation, our lives, and everything about us are pretty much invincible. We believe we are unsinkable. With that attitude, we will find our fate. Humility never hurts, and pride kills. The pot of stew is cooking good now. Can you smell what we are cooking in America? Loving ourselves and money more than God; boasting about it and being proud. This things by themselves lead to destruction.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Thought of the Day - A Pot of Deadly Stew
Why Are We Bothered With Troubles? (3)
A Pot of Deadly Stew
2 Timothy 3:1 – 7
As I watched some of the news today it became even more apparent that we, as a nation, are falling fast into the pot. The pot I’m referring to is found in 2 Kings 4:40, where Elisha came into Gigal where there was a famine in the land. He told them to boil up a pot of herbs, wild vine, and wild gourds. As these sons of prophets were eating it they cried out, “O thou man of God, there is death in the pot.” Many might say, ‘well that pot brought forth death.’ So are the sins, which are mentioned in this passage of 2 Timothy. James said, “and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death,” James 1:15. Paul very carefully shows us that the perilous times are a stew of many things, which equal to a huge pot of SIN. The word ‘for’ can be translated as ‘because’ in verse two. There should have possibly been a semicolon or comma after the word ‘come’ in verse 1. The pot that these people were eating out of in 2 Kings was causing a serious perilous time. However, Elisha had the answer, just as Christ has the answer for this pot we are building up in America and the whole world.
We’ve covered the men who shall be lovers of their own selves. Verse 2 says, “For (because) men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,” and then the list continues. There is an old song about keeping up with Jones’. In the lyrics it reads, “we have a four car garage, and we’re still adding on”. Now, I know most of who will read this knows the song. But, this particular sentence describes most Americans today. We want to keep up with the Jones’. I know one set of Jones’ who will probably read this and think, ‘well it won’t take much to keep up with us.’ The point is if the Smiths build a 250,000 dollar home, we want it. However, we want to out do them, and build a 260,000 dollar home, and add a pool. The definition of coveting is, wanting something so bad that you will make every effort to get it. The actual word in the Greek for the word ‘covetous’ is philarguros, means fond of money. Uh oh, you mean that this particular verse means that men will become fond of money too? Look at what has happened in America alone! Remember what happened to Wall Street? How executives come out with millions of dollars and retired people who had money saved lost most, if not all, their savings? Does the word, ‘recession’ mean anything?
So, let’s read this scripture how it means to this point; “Because men will be lovers of their own selves, and be in love with money.” I know that is not KJV, but that is what it means. This particular part reminds me of a young man coming to Jesus and asking Him a very important question. The accounting is shown in Matthew 19:16 – 24; Mark 10:17 – 23: Luke 18:18 – 25. He asked Jesus, “What good thing can I do, that I may have eternal life?” This man was rich! He had all he needed and could usually buy anything he wanted. Guess what?!?! He could not buy eternal life! Jesus asked him, “Why do you call me good? There is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.” He told Jesus that he had kept the commandments from his youth. He said, “Now that I’ve done this, what do I lack?” Jesus said, (Layman terms) “Okay, well if you want to be perfect sell all you have, give it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven: and come follow me.” Now, let’s look at the contrast here. Jesus told the disciples, “Follow Me,” and they dropped their lively hoods and followed Jesus. Today, there is not anyone, in America, who would truly give up everything to follow Jesus. This rich young ruler would not give up his money, because it was more than he thought he had to do. He actually thought he could buy his way to heaven. His riches were so important to him, that if he lost them he would have been like many people who lost the money in Wall Street in the great depression. He would have killed himself. He was used to a lavish lifestyle that he didn’t want to give up for anyone.
Jesus went on to tell the disciples, “It is easier for the camel to enter the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God,” (vs.24). Most people today are not this rich, but there are a whole bunch of us that are not willing to give up anything for Christ. The pot of sin, as I call it, has started with money. I guess that is why Paul told Timothy in 1 Timothy 6:10, “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” It doesn’t say that money is the root of all evil. It’s says the love of money is the root of all evil. Everything in this old world revolves around money! Nothing is free! Salvation was not free either. Jesus paid for it with HIS life.
This description of perilous times that Paul is talking about has been happening for a while. We are lovers of our own selves; we do love money. The reason we love money is because it empowers us to do what we want. It’s all about self. Some even do what they can to make more and more and more of it. A rich person is never satisfied, if they have not allowed God to lead them with their money. They are always looking for ways to make their money grow. It becomes a god or idol in their lives. That’s why Jesus said, in Matthew 6:24, “No man can serve to masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Mammon actually means money.
The perilous times show that man has lost focus upon the Lord. Our priorities are in the wrong place and, in our minds God is only there when we think we need Him. Truth is HE is always there. We just choose to ignore Him, and since Jesus is the Prince of Peace, there are usually only perilous times in our lives. To have peace in our lives and nation, we must first allow Jesus to be the Prince of Peace in our lives. Many saved people have lost that focus and need to return to Him. Lost people will never have peace in their lives without Him.
A Pot of Deadly Stew
2 Timothy 3:1 – 7
As I watched some of the news today it became even more apparent that we, as a nation, are falling fast into the pot. The pot I’m referring to is found in 2 Kings 4:40, where Elisha came into Gigal where there was a famine in the land. He told them to boil up a pot of herbs, wild vine, and wild gourds. As these sons of prophets were eating it they cried out, “O thou man of God, there is death in the pot.” Many might say, ‘well that pot brought forth death.’ So are the sins, which are mentioned in this passage of 2 Timothy. James said, “and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death,” James 1:15. Paul very carefully shows us that the perilous times are a stew of many things, which equal to a huge pot of SIN. The word ‘for’ can be translated as ‘because’ in verse two. There should have possibly been a semicolon or comma after the word ‘come’ in verse 1. The pot that these people were eating out of in 2 Kings was causing a serious perilous time. However, Elisha had the answer, just as Christ has the answer for this pot we are building up in America and the whole world.
We’ve covered the men who shall be lovers of their own selves. Verse 2 says, “For (because) men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,” and then the list continues. There is an old song about keeping up with Jones’. In the lyrics it reads, “we have a four car garage, and we’re still adding on”. Now, I know most of who will read this knows the song. But, this particular sentence describes most Americans today. We want to keep up with the Jones’. I know one set of Jones’ who will probably read this and think, ‘well it won’t take much to keep up with us.’ The point is if the Smiths build a 250,000 dollar home, we want it. However, we want to out do them, and build a 260,000 dollar home, and add a pool. The definition of coveting is, wanting something so bad that you will make every effort to get it. The actual word in the Greek for the word ‘covetous’ is philarguros, means fond of money. Uh oh, you mean that this particular verse means that men will become fond of money too? Look at what has happened in America alone! Remember what happened to Wall Street? How executives come out with millions of dollars and retired people who had money saved lost most, if not all, their savings? Does the word, ‘recession’ mean anything?
So, let’s read this scripture how it means to this point; “Because men will be lovers of their own selves, and be in love with money.” I know that is not KJV, but that is what it means. This particular part reminds me of a young man coming to Jesus and asking Him a very important question. The accounting is shown in Matthew 19:16 – 24; Mark 10:17 – 23: Luke 18:18 – 25. He asked Jesus, “What good thing can I do, that I may have eternal life?” This man was rich! He had all he needed and could usually buy anything he wanted. Guess what?!?! He could not buy eternal life! Jesus asked him, “Why do you call me good? There is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.” He told Jesus that he had kept the commandments from his youth. He said, “Now that I’ve done this, what do I lack?” Jesus said, (Layman terms) “Okay, well if you want to be perfect sell all you have, give it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven: and come follow me.” Now, let’s look at the contrast here. Jesus told the disciples, “Follow Me,” and they dropped their lively hoods and followed Jesus. Today, there is not anyone, in America, who would truly give up everything to follow Jesus. This rich young ruler would not give up his money, because it was more than he thought he had to do. He actually thought he could buy his way to heaven. His riches were so important to him, that if he lost them he would have been like many people who lost the money in Wall Street in the great depression. He would have killed himself. He was used to a lavish lifestyle that he didn’t want to give up for anyone.
Jesus went on to tell the disciples, “It is easier for the camel to enter the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God,” (vs.24). Most people today are not this rich, but there are a whole bunch of us that are not willing to give up anything for Christ. The pot of sin, as I call it, has started with money. I guess that is why Paul told Timothy in 1 Timothy 6:10, “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” It doesn’t say that money is the root of all evil. It’s says the love of money is the root of all evil. Everything in this old world revolves around money! Nothing is free! Salvation was not free either. Jesus paid for it with HIS life.
This description of perilous times that Paul is talking about has been happening for a while. We are lovers of our own selves; we do love money. The reason we love money is because it empowers us to do what we want. It’s all about self. Some even do what they can to make more and more and more of it. A rich person is never satisfied, if they have not allowed God to lead them with their money. They are always looking for ways to make their money grow. It becomes a god or idol in their lives. That’s why Jesus said, in Matthew 6:24, “No man can serve to masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Mammon actually means money.
The perilous times show that man has lost focus upon the Lord. Our priorities are in the wrong place and, in our minds God is only there when we think we need Him. Truth is HE is always there. We just choose to ignore Him, and since Jesus is the Prince of Peace, there are usually only perilous times in our lives. To have peace in our lives and nation, we must first allow Jesus to be the Prince of Peace in our lives. Many saved people have lost that focus and need to return to Him. Lost people will never have peace in their lives without Him.
Friday, August 07, 2009
Thought of the Day - Life in the Fast Lane (2)
Why Are We Bothered With Troubles (2)
Life in the Fast Lane
I Timothy 3:1 – 7
Paul has addressed the perilous (dangerous) times that we will endure in the last days. We know that as dangerous as our country has become in work, play, and just everyday living that we have become safety conscious. We know that many dangers can be avoided if we change our ways. As we read this particular passage, we could probably agree that many of the things Paul outlines from verse 2 through 7 are contributing issues to dangerous times in our lives. Verse 2 of this passage starts off, “For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,” and of course the list goes on.
There are a lot of things to cover in this passage, but I want us to look at the first statement. “For men shall be lovers of their own selves.” I would like to say that there is no time in history that is more tied to this scripture than it is now. However, you can find it throughout God’s Word where many men have been about self. The phrase, “lovers of their own selves,” means that people will be about doing things that they want to do and not necessarily concerned about others or what others might think, much less God. Becky occasionally has told me, when in a conversation about something, “Not every thing is about you.” Sometimes we need to realize it is not about us. Most people are really selfish. We have to have the best of everything and can’t be satisfied with what we have. I know I have to fight myself when I see something that I really want. If I don’t, I usually get it anyway. Selfishness goes deeper than that though. We see people in need, and ignore them. If we give them something we think we should be honored by other men, or at least seen by others. We have this attitude of, “Did you see what I did?” If someone donates something to the church or to people, or to an organization, even our churches make plaques. And if they don’t, we want to know why.
I am reminded of the prayers of two men. Jesus told some people, which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others, a parable about these two men in Luke 18:9 – 13. He said, “The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. Then Jesus laid it on the line when He said, “I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” This is what Paul is talking about in this passage. There are two types of people. One chooses to look down his nose at people and uplift himself. The other has humility, and is willing to depend on God for salvation and later, other things. I would almost bet that the Publican, when forgiven, even helped others. We can see the humility in this man’s prayer. He acknowledged that he was worthless. This Pharisee fits the category in a lot of the ways Paul was telling Timothy about. You don’t see humility in his prayer; do you? Ask yourself this question; what category do you fit in?
Many people have been saved, but their thoughts and their ways are as the Pharisee. They think their religion has brought their relationship closer to God, but their attitude and self love has separated them from the relationship that they need from God. For the ones who have the attitude of the Publican, they see themselves as using a phrase that I hear Dave Ramsey say. He says, “I am blessed; more than I deserve.” We all are blessed. However, to see the true blessings of God, we must not love ourselves more than we love HIM. What does that mean? It means we must first be willing to do as the disciples did when Jesus told them to “Follow ME.” They gave up what they loved about themselves to really follow HIM. All people, this great nation, and the whole world need to see that it really isn’t about us; and it shouldn’t be. It’s all about the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Jesus Christ.
So, what part of the statement fits you? Do you love self more than God? A simple test will answer that for you. Are you really serving God, or are you doing just what you want too? You say, “I go to church.” That’s not the question; there are many people who go to church, but their relationship with the Lord is not strong, because they don’t allow HIM to be first in their lives. Another might say, ‘Well I don’t like to go to church, or I don’t like that preacher or some of those people, etc., and that is why I’m not going to church. Is that being all about self, or is it putting God first? Another question, Will that excuse be suitable to Jesus? If many would tell the truth, there are more of us who put self before the Lord many times. There are perilous times in the wicked old world, and there are perilous times in many peoples hearts. Loving our own self is a contributor to the perilous times that Paul talks about, and in our hearts. Because, when we put self before God, then there really is no real peace. In the movie, “Air Force One,” Harrison Ford is playing the part of the President. When addressing at crowd, at a dinner, he said, “It’s not the absence of war that brings peace. Real peace comes with the presence of Justice.” Jesus is the only one that can bring real peace to our lives and to this world. Let him calm the wars in your life; get out of HIS way by denying self.
Life in the Fast Lane
I Timothy 3:1 – 7
Paul has addressed the perilous (dangerous) times that we will endure in the last days. We know that as dangerous as our country has become in work, play, and just everyday living that we have become safety conscious. We know that many dangers can be avoided if we change our ways. As we read this particular passage, we could probably agree that many of the things Paul outlines from verse 2 through 7 are contributing issues to dangerous times in our lives. Verse 2 of this passage starts off, “For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,” and of course the list goes on.
There are a lot of things to cover in this passage, but I want us to look at the first statement. “For men shall be lovers of their own selves.” I would like to say that there is no time in history that is more tied to this scripture than it is now. However, you can find it throughout God’s Word where many men have been about self. The phrase, “lovers of their own selves,” means that people will be about doing things that they want to do and not necessarily concerned about others or what others might think, much less God. Becky occasionally has told me, when in a conversation about something, “Not every thing is about you.” Sometimes we need to realize it is not about us. Most people are really selfish. We have to have the best of everything and can’t be satisfied with what we have. I know I have to fight myself when I see something that I really want. If I don’t, I usually get it anyway. Selfishness goes deeper than that though. We see people in need, and ignore them. If we give them something we think we should be honored by other men, or at least seen by others. We have this attitude of, “Did you see what I did?” If someone donates something to the church or to people, or to an organization, even our churches make plaques. And if they don’t, we want to know why.
I am reminded of the prayers of two men. Jesus told some people, which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others, a parable about these two men in Luke 18:9 – 13. He said, “The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. Then Jesus laid it on the line when He said, “I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” This is what Paul is talking about in this passage. There are two types of people. One chooses to look down his nose at people and uplift himself. The other has humility, and is willing to depend on God for salvation and later, other things. I would almost bet that the Publican, when forgiven, even helped others. We can see the humility in this man’s prayer. He acknowledged that he was worthless. This Pharisee fits the category in a lot of the ways Paul was telling Timothy about. You don’t see humility in his prayer; do you? Ask yourself this question; what category do you fit in?
Many people have been saved, but their thoughts and their ways are as the Pharisee. They think their religion has brought their relationship closer to God, but their attitude and self love has separated them from the relationship that they need from God. For the ones who have the attitude of the Publican, they see themselves as using a phrase that I hear Dave Ramsey say. He says, “I am blessed; more than I deserve.” We all are blessed. However, to see the true blessings of God, we must not love ourselves more than we love HIM. What does that mean? It means we must first be willing to do as the disciples did when Jesus told them to “Follow ME.” They gave up what they loved about themselves to really follow HIM. All people, this great nation, and the whole world need to see that it really isn’t about us; and it shouldn’t be. It’s all about the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Jesus Christ.
So, what part of the statement fits you? Do you love self more than God? A simple test will answer that for you. Are you really serving God, or are you doing just what you want too? You say, “I go to church.” That’s not the question; there are many people who go to church, but their relationship with the Lord is not strong, because they don’t allow HIM to be first in their lives. Another might say, ‘Well I don’t like to go to church, or I don’t like that preacher or some of those people, etc., and that is why I’m not going to church. Is that being all about self, or is it putting God first? Another question, Will that excuse be suitable to Jesus? If many would tell the truth, there are more of us who put self before the Lord many times. There are perilous times in the wicked old world, and there are perilous times in many peoples hearts. Loving our own self is a contributor to the perilous times that Paul talks about, and in our hearts. Because, when we put self before God, then there really is no real peace. In the movie, “Air Force One,” Harrison Ford is playing the part of the President. When addressing at crowd, at a dinner, he said, “It’s not the absence of war that brings peace. Real peace comes with the presence of Justice.” Jesus is the only one that can bring real peace to our lives and to this world. Let him calm the wars in your life; get out of HIS way by denying self.
Thursday, August 06, 2009
Thought of the Day - Life in the Fast Lane
Why Are We Bothered With Troubles? (1)
Life in the Fast Lane
2 Timothy 3:1 – 7
I’m not one that listens to the radio in my truck a whole lot. Unless there is a good football game on, news I want to hear, etc. I love to hear preaching and Christian music too. However, my wife would vouch that most of the time I don’t even listen to the radio in the truck. However, today I was listening to our local radio, and as soon as the program was over there was a country song that came on that I listened to the lyrics on. I really don’t know what the name of it is, since I very seldom listen to that type of music, and I couldn’t tell you who the artist is that sings it. But, if I had to guess at the title of the song, it would be, “That’s life.”
In that song there is a story of a wife calling her husband’s best friend for help. She told him that he had gone off the deep end and she needed help. He finds his friend, who was at a bar, and he begins talking about how he was struggling, not getting enough hours at the job to pay the bills, how he had a wife with three kids that were depending on him and also may have another one on the way. He was feeling really sorry for himself and his friend told him, “That’s life.” The song was so true for a world that is going in the wrong direction today.
This once great nation is in despair! Everyone wants to point fingers at someone else. Our politicians don’t want to acknowledge that they were the main culprit in our nation being in a huge bind. They are too proud to say, “You know, we just flat messed up.” On top of this, there is nobody who is safe any longer in this county, must less the world. Paul told Timothy this would happen in the last days. 1st Timothy 3:1 – 7 outlines, to me, a whole lot of what is going on in our nation today. Of course the whole world is experiencing these problems. Paul said, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.” We are in a very dangerous world! People kill people for almost anything today. Our nation is in trouble because we have our own agenda and, most of the time, it doesn’t fit the way God leads us or wants us to go. Solomon put it simple in Proverbs 14:12, “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” David added a verse in Psalm 118:8, “It is better to trust in the Lord, than to put confidence in man”. So if they were combined in the verse you could say, There is a way which seemeth right unto man, but it is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. However, this world chooses, more often than not, to put more confidence in man and less trust in the Lord. This combination in itself is the beginning of perilous times and troubles. The Lord simply calls it SIN.
Paul gets into the many things that are key factors of these perilous times. I hope to look at these points a little closer as I study them out. We, as Christians, and as a nation need to get back to the basics of life. These basics start off in one simple direction. That is why the Lord told us what He did in 2 Chronicles 7:14. The Lord said, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” The whole world needs to focus on God’s will. He is the answer to solving troubles and problems. If we follow these simple directions, we will go a long way in solving troubles and problems.
Life in the Fast Lane
2 Timothy 3:1 – 7
I’m not one that listens to the radio in my truck a whole lot. Unless there is a good football game on, news I want to hear, etc. I love to hear preaching and Christian music too. However, my wife would vouch that most of the time I don’t even listen to the radio in the truck. However, today I was listening to our local radio, and as soon as the program was over there was a country song that came on that I listened to the lyrics on. I really don’t know what the name of it is, since I very seldom listen to that type of music, and I couldn’t tell you who the artist is that sings it. But, if I had to guess at the title of the song, it would be, “That’s life.”
In that song there is a story of a wife calling her husband’s best friend for help. She told him that he had gone off the deep end and she needed help. He finds his friend, who was at a bar, and he begins talking about how he was struggling, not getting enough hours at the job to pay the bills, how he had a wife with three kids that were depending on him and also may have another one on the way. He was feeling really sorry for himself and his friend told him, “That’s life.” The song was so true for a world that is going in the wrong direction today.
This once great nation is in despair! Everyone wants to point fingers at someone else. Our politicians don’t want to acknowledge that they were the main culprit in our nation being in a huge bind. They are too proud to say, “You know, we just flat messed up.” On top of this, there is nobody who is safe any longer in this county, must less the world. Paul told Timothy this would happen in the last days. 1st Timothy 3:1 – 7 outlines, to me, a whole lot of what is going on in our nation today. Of course the whole world is experiencing these problems. Paul said, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.” We are in a very dangerous world! People kill people for almost anything today. Our nation is in trouble because we have our own agenda and, most of the time, it doesn’t fit the way God leads us or wants us to go. Solomon put it simple in Proverbs 14:12, “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” David added a verse in Psalm 118:8, “It is better to trust in the Lord, than to put confidence in man”. So if they were combined in the verse you could say, There is a way which seemeth right unto man, but it is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. However, this world chooses, more often than not, to put more confidence in man and less trust in the Lord. This combination in itself is the beginning of perilous times and troubles. The Lord simply calls it SIN.
Paul gets into the many things that are key factors of these perilous times. I hope to look at these points a little closer as I study them out. We, as Christians, and as a nation need to get back to the basics of life. These basics start off in one simple direction. That is why the Lord told us what He did in 2 Chronicles 7:14. The Lord said, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” The whole world needs to focus on God’s will. He is the answer to solving troubles and problems. If we follow these simple directions, we will go a long way in solving troubles and problems.
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