"More Than Conquers"

“But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.  For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, hater of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.”

2 Timothy 3:1-5

“Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.  But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.”          

2 Timothy 3:12-13

 I was talking with someone this past Sunday that worked in Colonial Williamsburg as a guide for a number of years.  The topic was raised because my daughter is going this week on a field trip with her class to Colonial Williamsburg.  He said, “Have her ask the class guide about the tunnel.”  What tunnel?  “The tunnel that leads from the House of Burgesses to the Tavern.”  “Really,” I said!  “Yes!  In the colonial era when the House was in Session, at night they would bring in slaves and put their hats on them and have them walk around in the candle light so to appear to the public as if they were still working late into the night.  Then they would go down in the tunnel and travel to the Tavern for drinking.”  Oh, deception!!! I thought.  You, bet! 

Little has changed.  Deceiving and deception has been and will always be at center stage in the world.

My mind went to this Second Timothy 3 text when the Apostle Paul was challenging Timothy as a church leader to be aware of what was happening and watch for the things to come.  When you read this list, and to be honest with you it is a exhaustive list, you cannot help but to say, I see ALL of that going on today.  Selfishness, power and deception all run rampant today.  Paul states that in the last days we will see these things.

So the question is:  Are we in the last days?  I believe we always have to assume we are in the last days.  We are to live and plan for the future, knowing today could be our last.  Living and planning for the future though has to be carefully crafted.  It has to be with a teachable heart.

In my sermon Sunday, I stated that the two followers of Christ on the road to Emmaus had a teachable heart and we have to have that same kind of heart.  With a teachable heart you can keep these things at bay.  You see, Paul goes on to tell Timothy in chapter 3 & 4 that:

“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17

“Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.”  2 Timothy 4:2-4  

You see, we have to be of sound mind and heart.  We have to be teachable by those God has put in charge to oversee the teaching and preaching of His Word.  There will be times of correction and rebuke.  Times of reproof and training.  But remember that they are for your good and the good of the Kingdom.  

Let us never get caught up in the deception of evil, of man, of worldly desires that will turn us to myths, but focus on HIM the author and finisher of our faith.  The more and more you and I focus on Him and His Word, the less this list of evil will be able to tempt us.

As with the Colonial representatives and with our current crop of many elected representatives, deception is the norm.  But of the believer, it can never be!  You cannot serve tw o masters.  In Christ alone we take our stand.

So believer, as you read and re-read these passages from 2 Timothy, please stand firm in the faith of God our Father knowing that persecution, trials, and yes, even heartaches will come, but rest assured that we are more than conquers in Christ Jesus our LORD!  Praise and Glory to Him!  Now and Forever!  Amen!

Blessings, Pastor Marty Duffell

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