Godlessness in the Last Days

2 Timothy 3 gives us an outlook of what it will look like in the last days. Basically, the masses will have turned away from God, and it is visible in their actions.

For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly.

Let's go over these in more detail.

The funny thing is that people don't think these things are wrong in today's society. Most people would read the passage and say, "uh, so what?"

People will love themselves and money. Loving money should be thought highly of. Financial success should be everybody's #1 goal.

Boastful and proud? Why should I not be? I'm the one responsible for my success, and people should know about it, right?

Disobedient to their parents. Our parents don't know what's best for us most of the time. They're closed-minded and intolerant. We all know better, anyway.

Ungrateful: Well, when you're the one responsible for your own successes, who is there to thank? I'm a self-made man. We're in control of our own destinies. Really? Let me see you stop your own death when you get hit by a bus you didn't see coming.

They will consider nothing sacred. What does sacred mean?

Unloving and unforgiving: People claim they love everybody. But watch what happens when somebody is rubbed the wrong way. We'll hold a grudge to our grave.

Slander others: This one's easy. Look at any political campaign. Hang out around the water-cooler at work.

No self-control: School shootings, drug addiction, compulsive gamblers (dot dot dot)

Cruel and hate what is good: We need to take down the 10 commandments from public places, especially government buildings. Not only is it separation of church and state, they're intolerant. We villainize our police and elevate our criminals. At the same time let's say that we're tolerant, but demean anybody who doesn't see the world the way we do.

They will betray their friends: Well, it's their own fault, they should have been smart enough to know better. Trust no one!

Reckless: Anything for an adrenaline rush! I'm invincible!

Puffed up with pride: Should I not be? I'm smarter than 90% of people I know. I make a good living. If God didn't want me to be smarter than him, he wouldn't have given me the ability to reason. He gave us our brains for a reason.

Love pleasure rather than God: Hey, don't judge me. I was made this way. If God didn't want me to do it, he wouldn't make is so fun, right? And why would I love a god that is so cruel? I don't want a god that would send somebody to hell. You want me to enjoy this, and then punish me for it?

Act religious, but reject the power that would make them holy: It's easy to say I'm a Christian. I read the bible every day. I go to church, ask anybody there, they see me every Sunday. I can quote scripture. I always donate to the collection plate, or my favorite charity. Guess what? It's all empty if you're doing it without the Spirit. If we're doing it and it's not to glorify God, then we're doing it for ourselves. Does that make you holy? No. It gives you more ammunition for your ego. Thanks again, pride!

It always comes back to pride. We think we know better than God. We define Him. He doesn't define us. He gives us the shell, and it's up to us to fill it up on earth. This is the way most of us think and feel. In society-even in Churches, we're rejecting God more and more every day. The focus is on the self. Doing anything we can to feel good about ourselves, even when we know what we are doing is wrong. Yet, we sure are quick to blame God when something goes wrong. Something goes right? Man, I did a great job!

How often do you find yourself asking, "How much longer can He possibly wait?"