(From Highway News and Good News)
A long time ago, I was told that there are only two imperatives in life: death and taxes. Apart from illustrating the strength intended by an imperative, that statement is only good for a chuckle. However, the Apostle Paul makes an imperative statement that is intended to have eternal implications—no chuckle intended. In his second letter to Timothy, the Apostle writes, “You must understand this, that in the last days distressing times will come” (2 Timothy 3:1 NRSV). Paul uses a Greek structure that makes his imperative as strong as the language would allow. No ifs, ands, or buts; you must understand! Understand what? That there will be distressing times, of course. When? In the last days, last meaning the final item in a series of actions or events. Then Paul gives substance to the imperative by describing the times. Man, does he describe them! Ask yourself if this is an accurate description of what you see in the world around you today: he says that people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, inhuman, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, lovers of pleasure, haters of God. Hold up today’s headlines to Paul’s description, surf the Internet, listen to the TV or radio, and…surprise! They match! One of the most common responses I hear when people, Christians included, read, hear, or talk about world events is, “I don’t understand!” I think Paul would respond by saying, “You must understand! These things are on God’s timeline. They are markers for us to watch along the inevitable march to the end.” And as horrible as these descriptors are to live with, they should encourage Christians to persevere and to fulfill God’s purposes today with an eye to the day when every knee will bow and every tongue confess Jesus is Lord! As we watch the world around us, I think we need to say, “I understand.” Then we need to resolve that this is how we will live. To paraphrase Paul, “I will proclaim the message, for the time has come when people do not put up with sound doctrine; instead they gather around them many teachers to say what is politically correct and expedient as opposed to what is right, good, and true.”