The past 100 years have chilled the surging optimism that with time, humankind will "figure things out and learn to get along." Now, quiet desperation has settled in. What can the righteous do?
Recent Entries
God? Who Needs Him?May 31, 2013
Self-sufficient humanism. Paul saw it coming – “lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.”
Imago Dei
September 12, 2012
So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
Why Can't I Pray?
August 18, 2012
The bible gives us several reasons, but according to Jeremy Taylor, a deceitful heart is at the root of prayerlessness.
It's Not Rocket Science
July 23, 2012
To keep in step with the Spirit should be our daily quest. And if we are successful at that, all of life falls into place.
Theological Steak
April 10, 2012
These words by P. T. Forsythe on the magnificence of Christ's work are to theology what Ruth's Chris is to a good steak.
Describing the Indescribable
February 11, 2012
What we have in Christ will take all eternity to describe. But for one segment of one sermon, a great preacher made a mighty attempt.
Making Sense Of It All
January 30, 2012
Where are things headed? Is there rhyme and reason to the endless cycle of summer, fall, winter and spring? Is there a plan in place, or is randomness the explanation?
It Could Happen!
December 30, 2010
There will be terrible times in the last days.
Check.
People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. 2 Timothy 3:2-5
Check, check, check, check, check, check, check, check, check, check, check, check, check, check, check, check, check, check, check.
It is a little frightening that so many of the items on Paul's list are so pronounced in our day. J. C. Ryle was consoled in his day (the 19th century), by reasoning that since these verses are so immediately verifiable proves that Scripture was right.
I believe that the widespread unbelief, indifference, formalism, and wickedness, which are to be seen throughout Christendom, are only what we are taught to expect in God's word.
Troublous times, departures from the faith, evil men waxing worse and worse, love waxing cold, are things directly predicted. So far from making me doubt the truth of Christianity, they help to confirm my faith. Melancholy and sorrowful as the sight is, if I did not see it I should think the Bible was not true.
But the fact that the Bible is true does not lessen the weariness we feel by living in such a world. So, what is our source of hope, with such a bleak prospects for change? C. H. Spurgeon points to the second coming - the Blessed Hope.
Apart from the second Advent of our Lord, the world is more likely to sink into pandemonium than to rise into a millennium. A divine interposition seems to me the hope set before us in Scripture, and, indeed, to be the only hope adequate to the situation. We look to the darkening down of things; the state of mankind, however improved politically, may yet grow worse and worse spiritually.
These words, preached 150 years ago, have a prophetic exactness that more than proves true in our day. Part of Paul's advice to Timothy, words that we should heed as well, is that Timothy would watch over his life, and stay awake, doing all in his power to keep his name from being added to the junkpile of faith.
Paul seems devastated that Demas has defected, and that former co-worker Alexander has now joined the enemy camp. The warning is clear. Timothy, the times are perilous, so watch your life and your doctrine closely.
Here comes 2011. May we have the same confidence that Paul displays as he closes out his second letter to Timothy....
The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Given the day we live in, that's a promise to claim. The return of Christ may happen this year. It could happen! Regardless, let's watch and wait and hope and pray, longing and yearning, with our lamps lit.
Maranatha.
Lord, come soon.
