The Last Days…

By Dean Collins

There is always someone reminding us about the last days. Recently, it was the main theme of every news program and media outlet. We endured constant reports on what each candidate was doing and saying in the last days before the election. I suspect now there will be days and weeks of analysis as to whether each party said and did the right thing during the last days before votes were cast and counted.

Whenever the seasons change, someone reminds us these are the last days of summer, fall, winter, or spring. And it won’t be long before we will hear the countdown on how many days we have left to shop for Christmas. Then there are the last days associated with life events like the last days before the baby is born, the last days before retirement, and the last days before football or basketball or baseball season ends. Some get very concerned about these “last days” situations, and others can’t wait to get past the “last days” and back to normal!

It is just speculation on my part as I read 2 Timothy, but it seems the apostle Paul knew he was in his last days. His letters to Timothy were meant to continue his mentorship of this younger minister of the gospel. Paul wanted to encourage Timothy in his leadership journey and to remind him of what he had seen and heard from him. 

In chapter 3, Paul gave this sobering reminder of what to expect during the last days. This last day reference was not to Paul’s last days. The New Testament scriptures refer to the “last days” as the days that followed the ascension of Jesus until the time he would come again and renew and restore his creation. The second chapter of Acts and the first chapter of Hebrews are good references to verify this interpretation. 

Consider these words from Paul:

“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.”

Do you think we might be in the last days? Well, we are. But so was Timothy when he received Paul’s letter. Yes, we are closer to the last days than Timothy was, but don’t fall into the trap that something has dramatically changed for us. I am pretty sure that we are as corrupt, selfish, reckless, and on and on as every generation has been since the fall. I do not believe there is any evidence to suggest the contrary. Read the Noah story or consider how the Roman world, the time of Hitler, or any of both world and American history, and you will find a lot of descriptions of attitudes and behaviors that suggest 2 Timothy 3 sounded like those cultures.

We do have significantly greater access to information which probably makes us feel like it is the last days. Paul’s message in this chapter can spur us on to doing our part in sharing the gospel and living the gospel so that the work of Christ can permeate culture and hasten the day that Jesus returns.

The last few verses of chapter 3 remind us that we must lean into the living and breathing word of God found in our bibles. Paul tells us that God’s word is worth teaching and has the power to correct our thinking and order our living. It also gives us the confidence and courage we need to move forward in our service to Christ as we face seasons of suffering.  It is clear that Paul was preparing Timothy and us for this reality:

“All who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.”

 But when we surrender to Jesus and daily consume the teachings of scripture we will be “made complete, equipped for every good work.” 

Father, we confess that some days the chaos of the world seems completely out of control and like the world is surely on the brink of disaster. In these moments, draw our minds to the scriptures that remind us that you are in control and are working your plan of renewal and restoration that will appear when Jesus returns. Until that time, fill us with your love and increase our faith that we might reflect your kingdom now in ways that offer your love, mercy and grace to those around us.  All our hope and confidence is in you! Come Lord Jesus! Amen.

Your Time with God’s Word
2 Timothy 3:1-5, 10-17; Acts 2:17; Hebrews 1:1-2 ESV

Photo by Simon Berger on Unsplash
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