Focus on Good News. . . .

A family member sent me an email last week that lines up with Piper’s devotional passage for today. His email said “Can’t help but feel the effects of the last days described in 2 Tim 3:1-5. I’m sure you feel the same. Very hard to watch the news these days… I am reminded to keep focused on the Good News that will help soften that bad news around us.”

He also said that it was not his place to say when the end would come. However, this passage does describe much of current news:

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. (2 Timothy 3:1–5)

I’m with him on focusing on the Good News. Piper didn’t do that at first. Instead he gave statistics that are three decades old and make me shudder. Men abuse women. Many abuse the police. Murder rates are high. Mocking Jesus happens and still does. Mass shootings, people driving vehicles into crowds, brutality and lack of self-control. It is all part of current world events including the abandoning of God both in public and in private.

But there is good news too. In our city, large shelters feed and take care of the homeless. The love of Jesus is taken to the streets by those who build relationships with those who feel helpless. Many groups take care of needy families with new babies. Others supply beds for children who have none. Several offer help and shelter for women who are in danger.

God calls His people to avoid those described by the above bad news. I could finger-point and shake my head in disgust at each newscast with the vanity that “at least I’m not like that” but my sin is just as disgusting to God as their evil behavior. Instead, He challenges me with verses like this:

But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. (Ephesians 5:3–12)

The Lord does not want me to do such things, and not even talk about what they do. Instead, He tells me, “If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” (James 1:26–27)

What is more challenging than to control what I say? Maybe to change my thoughts? Maybe to be occupied with doing good instead of bad-mouthing those without Christ who are helpless to do anything that pleases God? Maybe to show other Christians how to have a relationship with those who hit the news for the wrong reasons? To pay attention to words like:

Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:16–21)

PRAY: Jesus, evil is not overcome by more evil, particularly the vanity of thinking I’m better than those involved in sin — and neglecting to glorify You as the only reason for anything good in me. You died for the world — while we were still sinners — and everyone needs to know You and Your incredible love, sacrificed to deliver us from sin’s deadly bondage.

 

Is Jesus coming soon?

Some Christians say we are in the ‘last days’ and Jesus will soon return. Others say that the world has always been full of bad stuff like it is now. Others argue that biblically saying that the ‘last days’ is the period between Jesus’ ascension to heaven and when He returns. Regardless of when it is, there are several descriptions of what will characterize this period in history. Here is one of them:

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. For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men. (2 Timothy 3:1–9)

This list does not cover everything. Paul also wrote that in later times “some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.” (1 Timothy 4:1–3) Other ungodly activities are listed elsewhere with most of them like a fortune cookie; they could be about any part of the world and any era of time.

However the above passage suggests to me that since I am going to be part of the good news and show it by the way I live, I need to pay attention to certain things that are opposite to the way people behave during ‘last days’ of doom and gloom.

For instance, I need to love Jesus Christ and others. Self-love is easy; trusting God to meet all my needs and loving others is my biggest battle. This is not a new thing for Christians, nor a new truth about all people. Sin and selfishness are partners, not recent to the world.

A last-day problem with money is not a new problem either. Perhaps the passage means a focus on money will increase. That seems true in North America. Is it worldwide? I’m not sure. For me, my faith must be in the God who meets all my needs, not in money; it does not come close.

The next items on the list are attitudes. The opposites are humility, considering others, kindness, honoring parents, thankful, holy, thoughtful, easy to please, edifying others, and having all Spirit-filled qualities, including self under His control. I’m to be gentle, love good, loyal, careful, selfless, unconcerned about personal pleasure, and focused on loving and glorifying God. There are likely many more adjectives, but this is the kind of person others want to be around, not avoid.

Not only are Christians to have great attitudes, our lives must show it. We are not to be deceptive, trying to trick people with weaknesses or take advantage of those with problems. We are to be totally involved with truth and our faith in Jesus. If we fall away from that, it will be obvious. False teachers can fake it, but those who know the Lord are either “on or off” and cannot act godly when we are operating in the flesh instead of the power of the Holy Spirit.

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Lord Jesus, no wonder the last days will bring times of difficulty. To live out my faith in a world that opposes all that I believe and stand for will require a great deal of commitment and courage. I’m just so thankful that You are the source of that kind of determination. I can love and follow You because You love me and are with me all the time and in every situation. It may be the last days, but because of Your grace and power, You will have the last word about what goes on in this world and in my life!

Today’s thankful list . . .

Hubby’s courage as doctor removes two more skin cancers.

Strength for each day, along with joy.

Able to purge just a bit more ‘stuff’ and simplify life.

A really good iron.

Fresh fruit.