A SLICE OF APOSTOLIC LIFE Our times (2007) are marked by a certain spiritual jeopardy – they are "perilous times," as the Spirit would put it. "This know also, that in the last days PERILOUS shall come" (2 Tim 3:1). And what are "perilous times?" Is the Spirit speaking of times of violence, as in Noah's day, when "the earth was filled with violence" (Gen 6:11)? Or, is the Spirit referring to times when, as Jesus said, there would be "wars and rumors of wars," when "nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom" – when "there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places" (Matt 24:6-7)? Is that the kind of peril of which the Spirit warns? -- Tomorrow:
"Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord, I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia. Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of His knowledge by us in every place." (2 Cor 2:12-14)
Devotion 3 of 24
On this matter, the Spirit speaks expressly, or more precisely. He is not speaking of the peril of earthly disruption and bloodshed. That is bad enough – but there is a jeopardy that is more serious than that – a risk that does not appear dangerous on the surface, and yet it has the capacity of causing people to be condemned.
The "perilous" times of which the Spirit speaks are defined as times when men can maintain a "form of godliness," while rejecting its power. It is a time when a religious identity can be professed while sin breaks forth on every hand by those professing it. Here is how the Spirit describes such times: "For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers (railers), disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers (unforgiving, irreconcilable, implacable), false accusers, incontinent (without self control), fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady (headstrong, rash, reckless), highminded (lifted up with pride), lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God" (2 Tim 3:2-4). Observe, none of these sins are of an outwardly violent manner. Yet, all of them are fundamentally self-centered. They all allow the person to maintain a religious veneer, while remaining morally no different than those who are obviously reprobate.
The Spirit is warning men of a decadent religious society – where men remain unchanged, yet maintain a religious posture. The result is that all manner of spiritual and moral corruption breaks forth among those professing godliness. Whatever may be said of their religion, it is not able to stem the tide of iniquity. Oh, convenient excuses are offered, and there is even some acknowledgment of weakness. But they continue to sin, all the while saying they are Christians. They maintain a "form of godliness," yet deny, or reject, the power of godliness, which enables the individual to resist the devil. And what does the Spirit say of such people? Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: FROM SUCH TURN AWAY" (2 Tim 3:5).
One of the reasons for this condition is the secondary position (at the best) that has been assigned to the Word of God. Even though this is the appointed means of maintaining spiritual life (Lk 4:4), there is a remarkable level of ignorance concerning the Word of God within the modern church itself. Other issues and writings have upstaged the Scriptures. A new and different vocabulary has therefore been adopted that reflects the perceptions of men rather than the revelation of God.
The outcome of this is that the "word of Christ" is NOT dwelling "richly" in the hearts of masses of professing Christians (Col 3:16). As a result, they cannot think properly, because their thoughts are being shaped, in the very best view, by religious tradition, not Divine revelation. Therefore, texts like the one before us have a strange sound to them. Our text appears to the unlearned to speak of a different era and another time. It is, what some might call it, an historical text, or something from "the first century" – an appellation traditionalists are fond of ascribing to the days when the church was alive and effective.
These assessments, of course, are not proper. In fact, they are thoroughly wrong. The words of our text describe contemporary spiritual experience. They reflect circumstances that still occur to those engaged in the work of the Lord. They are spoken within the context of a "common salvation" and a "common faith," and consequently they are up to date.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, grant me grace to never bring reproach upon Your good name.