Weekly Devotion: The Last Days

^“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” 2 Timothy 3:1-5

While all of these indicators are true of today, one characteristic of “the last days”, mentioned above is that “men shall be… without natural affection”. HELLO, did you know that the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled that a ban on same sex marriages was unconstitutional? Friend, homosexuality is not a “natural affection”! This is one of many such recent occurrences that show us that our society is snow-balling towards hell, yet still having a chance.

“Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.” 2 Peter 3:3, 4

In spite of Biblical truth, “scoffers” continue “walking after their own lusts” and “evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse” (2 Timothy 3:13), doubting Christ’s coming.  Nature also seems to echo that we are in “the last days”; a study released on July 3, 2003, by the WMO -- a specialized climate science agency of the United Nations -- says the world is experiencing record numbers of extreme weather events, such as droughts and tornadoes. The agency warned that the number and intensity of extreme weather events could continue to increase.

“For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.” Romans 8:22

This also makes me think of the recent sun flares and all of the flooding, earthquakes, hurricanes, etc. that are in the news. It is hard to point to one thing and say “this confirms conclusively that Christ’s return is upon us” but honestly considering some of these trends leads me to wonder why he hasn’t came back already! I think that the verse below and others give us a key to understanding “the last days” though, because it says, “travaileth in pain”, i.e. as a woman having labor pains.

“Like as a woman with child, that draweth near the time of her delivery, is in pain, and crieth out in her pangs; so have we been in thy sight, O LORD.” Isaiah 26:17

Think about the word picture that the Bible gives of a woman giving birth, being like Christ’s return. As I understand it, her labor pains do two things; they become more intense and get closer together right up until delivery. In my spirit I sense the contractions getting more intense and closer together regardless of what arena of life we could discuss. Friend, these “perilous times” should drive you to make your “calling and election sure” (2 Peter 1:10) by listening to and trusting in God’s Son, so that you will be “delivered… from wrath to come” (1 Thessalonians 1:10).

“God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son…” Hebrews 1:1, 2a