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Good Thursday morning to you my “Walking with Jesus” friends.
While I do not know what this day will bring to each and all of us, and what global events will make the evening news tonight, I’m sure you would agree this day will probably again show us the evidence of a human race floundering without a deep reverence for God or a commitment to ‘walk with Jesus’.
Last week I was again brought to tears as I watched on TV, elderly holocaust survivors remembering the liberation of the Auschwitz death camp, 75 years ago. I have visited “Yadvashem”, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center in Jerusalem. It’s simply staggering. At the end of today’s “walk” you will find a link.
Perhaps you have met WWII soldiers, some of whom were part of the liberation of these death camps. Perhaps you have read about or visited, as I have, ‘the killing fields’ of Cambodia, or some of the other places where the horrific evil of men’s darkest imaginations have taken place.
In fact, no matter where we live in our world, the opening verses of 2 Timothy chapter 3 probably sound very much like our cities, yet they were written by Paul in 66ad from a prison in Rome, to Timothy in the city of Ephesus. “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 it’s power.” (2 Timothy 3:1-5)
But, you might say, hasn’t that been true of the human race since the days of Adam’s family? Yes it has, because it’s the natural course life takes when the sin nature, that we are all born with, is unrestrained in people, anywhere, in every generation. Paul spoke of that often in his other letters, Romans 1:18-30 & 8:5-8 for example.
What do you make of that phrase “…having a form of godliness but denying its power…”? In every place, in every generation there are religious people and people who try hard to be ‘good people’. But Paul is warning Timothy that there should be a marked difference between these people and those who are genuinely Holy Spirit filled, followers of Jesus Christ. I wonder what you see where you live and what evidences you look for which authenticate genuine Christ followers?
When you look around your community or even your extended family and friends, who are the vulnerable people? Those who sadly are taken advantage of through a scam or con artist? Those hurt by the deceptive and evil tactics of selfish people or prideful, hard-hearted people who have little sensitivity and simply run right over other people, and who have no regard for God? That’s what Paul was trying to alert Timothy to in verses 6-9. Do you see Paul’s reference to Moses and “Jannes and Jambres”? We all of course know who Moses was, but who are these other two characters who evidently opposed Moses?
They are mentioned only here in the Bible by name, but many Bible scholars believe they may have been among those sorcerers employed by Pharaoh who mocked and mimicked the first miracles and plagues Moses brought to Pharaoh to convince him that God wanted him to release the Hebrew slaves. You’ll find that in Exodus 7 & 8 and you may remember it involved staffs turning into snakes, water turning into blood and frogs coming up out of the water to cover the land. But in each case, while the sorcerers were able to duplicate the miracle, they could not undo it or control it. And then with the plague of the gnats (Ex. 8:16-19) the sorcerers were unable to produce them and they exclaimed to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God”as they humbled themselves before Moses and God’s supremacy.
Notice Paul’s commentary to Timothy about people like these in our day “They will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone.” (verse 9) It’s true, daily we see the ‘folly’ of those who claim to be so intelligent or wise or have accomplished such fame, yet they mock God. Remember what Isaiah the prophet reported that God had said? “Turn to Me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other. By Myself I have sworn, My mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked: Before Me every knee will bow and by Me every tongue will swear. They will say of Me, ‘In the LORD alone are righteousness and strength.’ All who have raged against Him will come to Him and be put to shame.” (Isaiah 45:22-24)
When I find myself riled up by injustice, or people who mock God, these words from Isaiah ring in my mind and I link them with Hebrews 4:13 “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” There will be a day of reckoning and the standard of evaluation will be God’s holiness, and every action, every word will be revealed, and God Himself will be judge and jury.
However, for those who have confessed their sin and repented before Holy God, two other great Scriptures are important to remember: Psalm 103:8-13 & 1 John 1:8-10. These give us assurance that when God forgives sin it is permanent!
As Timothy continued reading Paul’s letter I wonder if he begins to get a sense that Paul is preparing to say ‘goodbye’ starting in verse 10? “You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose… persecutions, suffering… yet the Lord rescued me from all of them…” It was true, Timothy had for many years been one of Paul’s closest friends and companions, and been part of many of the adventures and even tragedies of Paul’s journey. And therefore I imagine right here, as he was reading, Timothy raised up his arms in victory and said amen! For he had witnessed the amazing ways that God had strengthened Paul to withstand great persecution.
But then Timothy began reading again, “In fact everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse…” (verse 12). Now I imagine Timothy put down the scroll and started to pace the floor. Paul was talking about him and his future and others like him. As you may recall the great Rome fire had taken place about two years before and the Emperor Nero was determined that the Christians would be held responsible. Horrific persecution of Christians was spreading all across the Empire. Timothy, and most all Christians would face it, and as you know my friends, the graves of martyred Christians are scattered around the world in nearly every country. This is the reality of the hatred evil has for God, and His good, and His people.
However, Paul is never one to leave his readers in despair, for he himself was always looking for God’s hope in the difficult times of life. So Timothy picked up the scroll again and let’s join him in reading…“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.” (verses 14,15)
I hear Paul urging Timothy to take courage from two sources. First, those people whom he has known who have been good examples for him of how to stand firm when facing the difficult circumstances of life, even persecution. Who are those people for you my friends? Thank God for them right now! And, are you that type of person for others who are looking around to find someone to bolster their courage in difficult times?
And second, do you see Paul urging Timothy to hold firmly to the powerful truths of God and His Word and His Presence in your life! Are you doing that my friends, and have you found Paul’s advice to be true and powerfully effective in your journey through life? Are you sharing those stories with your kids and grandkids, and others who your life touches? Oh you may be thinking “I’m no Apostle Paul, I don’t really have anything significant to say.” Oh my friends nothing is more powerful than your real, life story of how God has uniquely worked in your life journey! Treasure it and share it, often my friends. Let your life be used of God to impact others!
Oh Lord Jesus thank you for the way you do strengthen us in difficult times. Thank you for the power of your Word the teaches us and inspires us. We lift up before you today all those in all places where great persecution is causing great suffering. Please strengthen your people, O God.
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Pastor Doug Anderson 262.441.8785
“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, with our eyes fixed on Jesus…” (Heb. 12:1,2)
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