2 Timothy 4:3-5

     "For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine.  Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.  But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry."

"Doubting Thomas" by Caravaggio 

        This passage speaks directly to the times in which we are living.  Whether you are a Believer or not, you can't dispute that men have abandoned their principles and are falling for the corrupting influence of false teachers.  Whether you look at it from the perspective of an ordinary citizen of this world, or from the viewpoint of a faithful servant of Christ, you can't escape the fact that we have strayed far from the path we were meant to travel.

     Average citizens are falling for whatever myth or explanation that promises to make the pain and the fear go away.  They will be led by cunning and crafty "leaders" down the path of least resistance.  "Follow me," they say.  "I will solve the problems of the world.  Forget what your conscious is telling you is right -- things have changed; you need to see the world (or the economy, or your rights) in a new light."  They will only be concerned with what will make their lives easier.

     The faithful are no different.  There will be those who will abandon the Truth found in the Scriptures, for a new, "emerging" doctrine that promises social equality, justice and reform.  They will quit listening to the words of prophets that have spoken the Word of God through thousands of years, in favor of  "inspired" teachers who have suddenly and miraculously discovered a new and better way to interpret what Jesus meant.

     But lest you are losing heart, re-read the last part of today's Scripture.  We do not have to go down that futile path. What are we to do?  We are to keep our head (study and remain connected to what we know is true, both in this life and the Scriptures); endure hardship ( fortify ourselves with preparation and prayer); do the work of an evangelist (sound the alarm, teach others life-saving truths -- both earthly and eternal); and discharge all the duties of your ministry (we each have been given earthly skills and spiritual gifts--use them to edify those in your circle of influence).  

     Don't misunderstand me.  There are things in this world that we can know and do in order to survive and have a better life; skills that will enable us to weather the storms that are on the horizon.  But it is the Trust and Hope that I have put in my Savior's promise that will ultimately help me to endure and do the work I am called to do.  He is the answer.

On Sundays, this blog is dedicated to the worship of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  I pray you are blessed by this message.