2 Timothy 3 - How Can We Be Ready for Jesus' Return At Any Time?

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3 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.

Many times over the last 20 centuries people have tried to predict when the end times will come. When Jesus will return to raise the dead and bring those on earth to heaven with him. The one thing all these predictions have in common is that they were all wrong. Jesus has not returned yet, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't to be prepared for him to return. 

Jesus gives some of the conditions in the world that will be a present during the last days. When you look at the condition of man in his description in the 1st century, you will see it is not much different today. While it would be horrible to be person who fits this description, in some ways we demonstrate at least a couple of these traits in various degrees. 

For instance, who doesn't lack self-control in areas of our lives. I know I do. I love to eat. There are times I am boastful and proud, thinking more highly of myself than I ought. I can love pleasure more than God in my worst moments. I can love money and worry about having enough it. The bottom line is that when I confess my sins every morning, I realize that I am in bondage to sin and cannot free myself. 

But thanks be God that He has given us Jesus Christ, who has saved us from our sins and the penalty we deserve. 

But I think as a Christian who has been given the Holy Spirit there is an exception that I would not be ruled by these traits on a regular basis. Or, at the very least repent of them and turn from what I know is wrong to serve God. Paul lists these characteristics of those in the world who have no governor, because they don't have the Holy Spirit to give them any power to live a godly life in Christ Jesus. 

He says some of them to purport to have a godliness, but they have no power to back it up. They are like the false teachers not true Christians. Many today claim to be "spiritual" but do not know Christ! 

6 They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over gullible women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, 7 always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth. 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these teachers oppose the truth. They are men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. 9 But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone.

And we see by these verses they are cunning and manipulative, as they take advantage of gullible women and even in their own homes. These men put on the guise that they are learning about God, but their actions show that they know nothing about him. 

He points to an example of two men, Jannes and Jambres, in the Old Testament who opposed Moses. 

 These were able to work real miracles – not mere parlor tricks – but by the power of darkness and not the power of God. When Moses cast down his rod and it turned into a serpent, Jannes and Jambres could do the same. When he turned water into blood, they could do the same. When Moses brought forth a plague of frogs, Jannes and Jambres could do the same. Yet eventually they could not match God miracle-for-miracle, and their occult powers were shown to be inferior to God’s power. - Guzik

A Final Charge to Timothy

10 You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, 11 persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. 12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Paul concludes this second letter to his disciple Timothy with a final charge. He begins by pointing out the way of life he had lived in front of Timothy, while he was with him. The greatest teaching we do when we are mentoring someone is our own life. If we are not praying, how can we teach them to pray. If we are not reading God's Word on a regular basis, how can we exhort them to be in God's Word. If we are not using our gifts to build up the church, how can we tell them to do it! 

Importantly Paul not only carried out his calling when things were going well, but also when he was suffering greatly. Paul assumes that if somone is carrying out their calling to follow Jesus, they will encounter suffering and persecution. This is why when Jesus called us he said, "Take up your cross and follow me!"

So what will keep Timothy on track? He has already been taught the way of life in Christ Jesus. He has already been discipled by Timothy. He grew up in a Christian family and both his mother and grandmother had a great influence on him, and also taught him the way of life in Christ Jesus. 

At the heart of his discipleship was knowing God's Word. The purpose of the Word of God is to make us "Wise unto salvation!" 

The primary purpose of the bible is to lead us to faith in Christ. The Old Testament prepared Israel and all people for Jesus the Messiah to come. The gospels told of his life, death and resurrection. And the rest of the church, including this letter, shows us how to live life for Jesus until he returns. 

Then, he makes one of the most important statements about the Word of God. Remember the bible as we know it today (66 books of the Old and New Testament) was not available yet. When Paul says, "scriptures" he is referring to the Old Testament scriptures. This does not mean the New Testament is not equally inspired, but it at this particular time it is important to know this. 

In regard to the nature of the bible, Paul says it is "inspired". This word literally means in-spirited". This means the Holy Spirit has given the human authors the words to say and write down. Since the bible is inspired by God, it is true and able to lead us to Christ. Additionally the bible is a faithful guide in every area of life. 

The purpose of the bible is to train us to serve Christ, and be an agent of the kingdom through the church he has called us to. 

Because these false teachers and false disciple were distorting and misrepresenting God's Word, the only way Timothy could pastor and shepherd the FLOCK was to know and apply God's Word in his own life!

It is interesting that this is what we still need today. Our culture has by and large dismissed the inspired nature of the bible, as many use it as they wish to justify their actions rather than guiding them. As we know and keep on God's inspired Word, we will be ready for Jesus to return at any time. We don't need to worry about it all. In fact, we can even look forward to it.  

I am so glad if you are reading this blog, as you are in God's Word on a consistent basie. It will ALWAYS keep you on the right path, as you read it and apply it to your life. As you stay rooted in God's Word, you will bear much fruit, and you will be ready for Jesus to return at any time!

Paul and Timothy were faithful servants of Jesus and may we be too as we await Jesus' return in great and promised glory!