The Bible says, “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: for men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lover of pleasure rather than God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!” (2 Timothy 3:5)
The Word of God is powerful and amazing. The Scripture verses of God provided above and taken from the Bible are truly relevant to the current times we are living in. The Bible is God inspired truth from Genesis to Revelation. The world is as the Scripture says, perilous, dangerous, unsafe, treacherous and risky. The Bible says that men are lovers of themselves and heartless toward the needs of others worldwide. Humanity is also covetous (money lovers and seeking what does not belong to them), proud (acting like they are better than others, not wanting to be instructed, a know-it-all), blasphemers (without reverence to God, ungodly, godless), disobedient to parents (refusing to obey), unthankful (bad spiritual manners, no matter how much God has done, it’s never enough. Saying thank you with the lips but not with the heart), unholy (godless, no fear of God), without natural affection (homosexual/lesbian lifestyles), trucebreakers (don’t keep their word), false accusers (liars, lie on others, lie on God), incontinent (without self-control), fierce (brutal, abusers), and despisers of those that are good.
The list goes on to say, traitors (say that they are with you), head strong (meaning reckless, not dependable, not trustworthy, unpredictable), They are high-minded (thinking more highly of oneself), lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God (put more time into pleasing the flesh rather than doing the things that please God), I just cannot help myself (God is saying “all you have to do is repent and turn from your wicked ways and accept My salvation). The Bible says, “from such things turn away”. Don’t spend time with them. Many of God’s people have been focused on things of the world from living for God to yielding to the flesh.
The Bible warns us that these types of behavior can be found outside the church as well as inside the church during these perilous times. Today, many of God’s people have taken their eyes off living for God to yielding to the flesh and the world system. Romans 12:1-2 says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
Many of the leaders of the church have let the world in and little has been done to lift the name of the Lord Jesus. God is not pleased with the church allowing the world to change it. This change is leading people away from God. The LORD our God wants us to repent. 2 Chronicles 7:14 says, If my people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
The Word of God says in Romans 14:10-12 “But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written: ‘As I live, says the LORD, every knee shall bow to ME, and every tongue shall confess to God.’ So, then each of us shall give account of himself to God.” Therefore, we all will have to give an account of ourselves before the LORD our God, without excuse. No one else can be blamed for your actions. One day you will stand before God our divine Creator of the heavens and the earth and give an account of all things whether good or bad. If you have not repented and trusted the Lord Jesus as your Savior because He died for the sins of the world, your soul will be lost without God and be condemned to spend an eternity in the Lake of Fire.
There is HOPE for you, if you choose to repent of your sins, turn from your wicked ways and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior (being born of the water and the Spirit), you will be saved and spend an eternity with God in the new heaven and earth. Jesus said except a man is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3:3,5, 16-17)
The Bible says in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, “For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an arch-angle, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up (rapture) together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus, we shall always be with the Lord.” The last Scripture verse says we should comfort and encourage one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:18)
The Lord is coming again, and He said of the times and the seasons we know but that of the day and the hour no none knows for the Lord comes as a thief. “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. But as the days of Norah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the Days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood dame and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.” (Matthew 24:36-39)
Scripture Verses for Meditation
“That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, ‘Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.’ For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.” (Romans 10:9-13)
“As it is written: There is none righteous, no, not one. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:10,23)
“How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation.” (Hebrews 2:3)
“Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:2)
“Therefore, I say to you, whoever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” (Mark 11:24)
Sinner’s Prayer: Lord Jesus, I am sorry for my sins and I ask you to forgive me. I open the door of my heart and receive You as my Lord and Savior. Take control of my life and begin making me that person You want me to be. Thank You, Lord Jesus for saving me. In the Lord Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
“You shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it… and then you will have good success.” (Joshua 1:8)
Your daily walk with the Lord should include reading your Bible every day; talking to God in prayer daily and finding a church where the Bible is taught as the Word of God. Life is short but eternity is forever!! “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give everyone according as his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last. Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter through the gates into the city. But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie. Surely I am coming quickly.” Even so, come, Lord Jesus! Amen. (Revelation 22:12-16,20)
ALL Scripture verses are taken from the New King James Version of the Bible.
By Constance A. Burns, NAAV Contributor for Moments of Mediation and Scriptural Readings; email: cburns@naavets.org.