PERILOUS TIMES- and You and Me
From Probing our Problems: by R.O. Covey
Bear in mind as you read-
PERILOUS TIMES! This means: Dangerous times, Grievous times, Trying times, Times of exposure to spiritual harm, danger and injury. One commentator notes that the context of the chapter indicates that the perils listed in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 are "not so much an account of persecution from without as an account of corruptions from within."
The dictionary adds "risk" to the definition. Already, the true Christian is constantly faced with the risk of being "tripped up" by "surprise deceptions" at almost every turn of the road! But we find comfort in the apostle Paul's words:
"...Our conversation [margin, citizenship] is in heaven..." (Phil. 3:20)
In America, we have long found consolation in a phrase from the flag Pledge- "with liberty and justice for all." But today, we are grieved (yea, terrified!) to find our freedoms deteriorating, as it was in Israel in the time of the prophet Isaiah:
"...Judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity [fairness and justice] cannot enter.
"Yea truth falleth; and he that departeth from evil [lives uprightly] maketh himself a prey [in danger of being falsely accused and unjustly punished]: and the Lord saw it, and it displeased him that there was no [righteous] judgment" (Isa. 59: 14, 15)
Later Davis wrote concerning the 'miscarriage of justice" by those in responsible positions-probably in Israel (type of church):
"...All the foundations of the earth are out of course." (Psalms 82:5)
One expositor says, "The fundamental bases on which the life of man upon the earth rests, the very principals of morality, are shaken, and totter to their fall, when those whose place it is to administer justice pervert it and deal out injustice instead."
The Psalmist asks a question which strikes terror to the heart-unless that is, one knows Gods answer:
"...If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?" (Psalms 11:3)
Those times- "perilous times" - are upon us, present tense! While we who are in Christ should be alarmed at the terrible unawareness of people at large, we ourselves are at peace, for we know God's answer:
"And when these things come to pass then LOOK UP and LIFT UP YOUR HEADS; for YOUR REDEMPTION DRAWETH NIGH" (Luke 21:28)
The intent of this message, "PERILOUS TIMES-and You and Me," and the intent of the messages to follow is to stir up awareness to the ominous forebodings of current events! We must constantly remind ourselves that we are responsible in the sight of God to cry out the warning-yes to "Cry aloud and spare not" (Isa. 58:1)- to a spiritually drugged, stupefied populace. Whether or not they take heed, we must keep our hands clean of their blood!
THE MESSAGE--
We are sometimes prone to think that this world is now as wicked as it can get. But facing reality, we must concede that evil is still on the increase. Each decade-even each year-seems to outdo the one before it in this respect. Ever since most of us can remember, Paul's prediction in 2 Timothy 3:1 has been preached as if it were practically fulfilled:
"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come."
"The last days" have been applied to various periods of time. Most reliable commentators agree that since there have always been spiritual perils in some measure, Paul's specific prophecy was intended for the days immediately before Christ's return. Worldwide developments currently are causing us to take a look at our times.
Because of the bloody wars here and there around the globe, our present day is marked by greater unrest, hatred,violence riots, and strife than has been known in any other time in history, unless it was the days of Noah.
So we have learned with the passing of time that it is inaccurate to say, "Things just can't get any worse." Only a few short years ago we would have been horrified had we been told that such flagrant lawlessness as we are seeing today would ever be allowed; that law and order would be thrown to the winds, and that chaos and violation of our legal codes would actually be justified by those in high places.
Seeing what we have seen makes us understand that we have probably not reached the complete likeness of Noah's days. It is said of those days, by the mouth of God himself:
"...The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filed with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth" (Gen. 6:13).
It was also said of man that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually" (Gen. 6:5).
Hearing, reading about, and seeing conditions that are being experienced in many, many areas, we are forced to say, "Yes, things are rapidly growing worse!" How long this direction will persist may not be known now, but we do know what Paul said:
"But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived" (2 Tim. 3:13)
Our Greatest Concern:
Paul goes on to advise us of this worsening state of affairs"
"But continue thou in the things thou hast learned...."
Those who are living right, and who have been doing God's will, generally and personally, have only to "continue." We know the church will do her work, but, as members of the body, we must keep ourselves free from the things the apostles says will be evidences of perilous times:
"for men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parent, unthankful, unholy, "without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, "Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God; "Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away" (2 Tim. 3:2-5).
Yielding to any one of these things, or to any combination of them, might well start and individual on the perilous journey! But this is a daring age, presumption and self will running rampant; and as much as we wish it were not true, it cannot be denied that there are members of the body who have been and who are, being affected and drawn little by little onto dangerous ground!
Perilous means "dangerous." It means "risky." Webster tells us that "peril suggests great and imminent danger. According to this definition, Paul might have said, "Greatly dangerous times shall come, and are even now threatening, impending, likely to break upon you without notice or delay." Even when we keep ourselves in the love of God by much prayer and consecration, we find ourselves threatened by the overhanging dark clouds of evil which will pounce upon us through the "despisers of those that are good." We need to be constantly on our guard, for evil enticements seldom make their initial attack with their ugly side out. The greatest dangers are those which lurk in the shadows, camouflaged as "harmless pleasures" or "innocent indulgences."
Their penetration may begin with a watering down of the power in the blood, especially in the work of sanctification. If "the old man" is not crucified, he will see that 'self" gains the preeminence. And if you will review Paul's "danger list", you will note that love of self is the priority item! And "self-love" and "self exaltation" is the spirit of the antichrist.
Our sobering Responsibility
The Church must lift up up her voice like a trumpet and cry out the warnings! And you and I are the Church! Our example often speaks louder than our voice. It is dangerous to override conscience and conviction. It is risky to be daring and adventuresome in our attitude toward forbidden things-worldly things, if you will. It is extremely dangerous to ignore the anointed preaching, teaching and counseling of those over us in the Lord.
The Church ministry carries a sobering responsibility to continue sounding the alarm, even if we are despised for doing so. And it is highly dangerous to compromise the truth in order to be popular and enjoy the favor of men. We are inviting imminent peril when we begin to throw overboard the doctrines and practices that have been tried by fire and flood, gradually substituting some flimsy, gauzy winged form of godliness that is not accompanied by the power of God.
It is possible to entertain a false trust in the promise that the gates of hell shall not prevail against the Church. The Church is predestined, but you and I are not.
