20060126
    For some, 2 Timothy 3 might read like a lament. In the last days, the world will be overrun by terrible, sinful men, whose very heart opposes God. For some, this might be a cause to worry that there is no hope.
    But for the Christian, we realize that this writing of Paul’s is merely a statement of fact. Indeed, there are these kinds of people in the world. In fact, we are surrounded by them in the form of evolutionists, terrorists, and abortionists, and all of the other sinless, godless people who stand against and attack what we stand for and believe as Christians. It is true that the people of the world are of a depraved mind, rejecting the Truth of God for their own clever lies. Yet, this is not a cause for lament.
    Why? Because our mission as Christians never changes. Just as Paul tells Timothy to look at his example of life, and we should do the same. However bad the world may get, however depraved and frightening the actions of the people of this world might become, our goal is still the Gospel, the preaching of Christ and Him crucified and raised from the dead.
    This realization is joy for a Christian because we know, as Paul tells us in Romans 5:3-5 and 8:18, that even if we suffer under the depravity of this world, it does not matter compared to the Promise we have through Grace.
    All the more, we should have compassion on these sin wrecked and lost souls. It is our mission as Christians, as the body of Christ, to bring the light of the Gospel to the very people Paul describes. In this light, 2 Timothy 3 is not a lament, but a challenge for all Christians in the name of Christ.
DLH
