“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.” 1 Timothy 3:1-5 ESV
Who do you associate with? These verses are a mirror into the times that we live. And the question becomes do we stand out and apart from these descriptions or blend in to what the Bible (aka Truth) says last days people and activities look like?
There is a popular saying about the narcissistic Roman Caesar Nero that says “as Rome burned, Nero fiddled.” While never proven as accurate or true, the context of the saying holds very true today. As the World is engulfed in war, famine, homelessness, drug addiction, hopelessness and death, en route to becoming the most God denying time in history, Americans focus on momentary things and the highs of dopamine release, requiring more and more self-indulgence while ignoring the needs of God’s children all around them. I am not a fan of broad generalizations but am compelled to write this as a sad and supportable fact.
I often think that a tragically accurate definition of America today would be the ‘narcissistic nation,’ where we teach self over others. Discounting proven truths for “my truth.” (What???) Willingly sending our children into the lions dens of colleges and universities, hell-bent on guiding our kids to Hell though enlightenment over Light. For this first time in our history, we are seeing less children being born than those dying. Congratulating the generations coming behind us for their individuality and personal awareness while applauding the rejection of God appointed roles of father and mother, encouraging the confusion of gender, identity, giftings and purpose. Confusion abounds as to why we are seeing spikes in depression, addiction, loneliness and suicide like never before, all while abdicating our roles born of experience and spiritual assignment to those without either. There is no foundation where foundational truths do not exist, And where foundational Truth is sidelined, evil and the lies of the enemy will abound. Rome burns.
So the question becomes, where does my heart lay? In the confines of comfort and self-indulgence or in the desire to be more Christ-like? Consider sacrificing self for selflessness; for righteousness; for true identity; for everlasting impact. Consider making yourself available and vulnerable to the least, most needy, most hungry for hope, most beautiful among us.
“I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!” Philippians 3:7-11 NLT
The World needs your involvement as never before. Your light, your hope, your example, your faith…your leading. The Truth that is Jesus Christ will live and remain the only truth, regardless of what the World adopts. Your life example of truth is very likely the hope for eternity for someone in your path today. Don’t walk by them, walk into them with kindness and love that may for the first time define through action Truth for them.
You’ve got this!