Are you alarmed by the way people speak and act these days? People are increasingly shocked and worried by the way we’ve started treating each other and rightfully so, because clearly, something has gone terribly wrong.
There was a time when people were much kinder and generous and that was the universal norm and not the exception. Today, mean and cruel people seem to be the norm and they even enjoy growing respect, popularity and power — while kind, honest and caring people are now mocked and ridiculed. Everything seems to have reversed itself and what we once considered to be good and worthy, is now called bad or evil and what was once considered to be bad or evil, is celebrated as good. For some reason, being cold, selfish and greedy is considered a good or understandable trait today and that is something many of us are noticing with increasing regularity.
Is It a Sign of the Times?
Sociologists and the clergy are looking at our times and wondering what has happened to make people feel empowered to be greedy and selfish and not even try to hide it. What has happened to make people flaunt obscene wealth, while others starve? Why is it okay for people today to brag about having “his and her private jets,” and they’ve done absolutely nothing to truly earn their wealth? Bullying is the rise, cruel remarks are seen as “humor,” aggressive behavior is tolerated and selfishness is seen as perfectly okay. So what has happened to make our world become such a cold, cruel place?
We have to ask if it is in fact, a dire sign of the times…
2 Timothy 3
The Dangers of the Last Days
But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.
They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over gullible women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these teachers oppose the truth. They are men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone.
A Final Charge to Timothy
You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
If we look at the warnings we’re given in this vitally important Bible passage, we can apply almost all to our times today:
“People will be:
- lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents,
- ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control,
- brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited,
- lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power.
Are we seeing a rise in this type of behavior as many people believe? People today do appear to be focused more on their own needs and desires and less on helping others. We see that people love money and will do anything for it — so many have become obscenely wealthy, but have created absolutely nothing to earn or share that wealth. We’re certainly seeing a dramatic rise in people being cruel and unforgiving and one only need look at our political discourse to see that — people are becoming hardened and refuse to cooperate or concede a point, no matter how wrong they may be.
I ask if you’re seeing this, knowing its a question that is already answered, because countless people are seeing it and some of them are even part of the problem. Its a cruel irony that some of the most unforgiving and boastful are accusing others of what they themselves are doing…which is disturbing, to say the least.
We Have a Way Out
At any time, we can get off this dangerous path. Jesus taught all we need to do and the solution isn’t a secret at all:
“You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured.”
His teachings, way of life and purpose: faith, patience, love, endurance and suffering persecutions for His faith and truth. All we need to do, is to stop the harsh judgements and condemnations of others and in their place, put forth tolerance, understanding, compassion, generosity and love. If we pull ourselves out of the cesspool of politics and pop culture and we value life more than things and we trust that God knows best, we can save ourselves from this unsustainable path we’re on. Do not call others sinners until you look in the mirror and acknowledge that you too are a great sinner and that God does not call on you to judge and condemn…He calls on you to forgive, love and tolerate.
If we continue hating and raging, we will surely pay the price, so there is no time to waste, because as we’re told: “For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.” And when it comes, God will not ask us about how our neighbor lived their life, He will ask us how we lived our life and if we loved and forgave others and if we followed the teachings of His Son, Jesus Christ. How will you answer?
Read more:
About four-in-ten U.S. adults believe humanity is ‘living in the end times’
Why People Are Acting So Weird
Millennials: The Me Me Me Generation
The U.S. Capitol Riot Was Years in the Making. Here’s Why America Is So Divided
I Hate People: Why You Feel This Way and What to Do
15 Things Christians Should Stop Doing on Social Media
