2 Timothy 4:1-5; “I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearance and His Kingdom: preach the Word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke and exhort with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth, and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” (ESV – all emphasis mine)
When Paul said in Verse 3, “For the time is coming…,” that time is here right now and is in full force. One issue is found in 2 Peter 3:3-4; “knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days, with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, ‘Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the father’s fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.'”
One question here; are all things continuing as they were? Changes that started taking place about a decade ago are moving faster and faster toward the introduction of the ultimate evil one and the start of the 7-year wrath or tribulation. For anyone to try and give dates or times, there are numerous verses about this. The issues have always been with us but not to the degree as now, and not all at once as now.
Matthew 24:36 and 44; “But concerning that day and hour, no one knows, not even the angels of Heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only…. Therefore, you must also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
Some may ask why Jesus didn’t know the day or hour that He would return in the future. We have to remember that He allowed Himself to be fully human, lower than the angels (Hebrews 2:7) before the crucifixion, but afterward, He was still fully God. Jesus is one-third of the Holy Trinity, and yet the way He came to this earth and ultimately was martyred in a most cruel way speaks volumes of the Love our Creator has for us.
Philippians 2:6-8; “who though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God as a thing to be grasped; but emptied Himself by taking the form of a servant; being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death; even death on a cross.”
No so-called manmade deity would ever fill this role as our true Savior did. He has the absolute right to be called “Lord of Lords” and “King of Kings.” He is our perfect Shepherd and truly loves His flock of believers.
One point here: Jesus came to this earth for the benefit of every living, breathing soul that would receive and accept His precious gift of eternal life, given for us at Calvary. He does not look at skin color or social standing in any way and is willing to forgive all of our sins if we call out to Him for forgiveness.
With the price He paid, is it any wonder that anyone who refuses to ask His forgiveness and have Him in their heart as their Savior will not be in Heaven with Him forever? Their destiny is with Satan and all his demons in the lake of fire after appearing at the Great White Throne Judgment of Revelation 20:11-15.
We all have the free will to choose to live forever with our Savior in Heaven or to be in hell forever without Him. No one will be forced, but all who sincerely call on the name of the Lord will be saved. Romans 10:9-13 gives us the steps that lead to Salvation.
When it is said to “Preach The Word,” please consider John 1:1-3; “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made.”
John 3:16-18 tells about the magnitude of God’s love, but it also ends with a definite warning. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” This same message is given in 1 John 5:10-12.
Anyone who wants to “Preach The Word” needs to read James 3:1; “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.” The Father will hold all who present themselves as teachers or preachers of the Word to be totally accountable for every message they give.
Going to a secular movie, “Oh, God,” there was a line that George Burns, who played God, spoke that still applies today. He was talking about a “prosperity preacher,” and George said, “He gives a whole lot of words, but just none of mine.”
All the new-age preachers that are tickling itching ears with unbiblical messages will be held accountable for every word they use. Personally, I would rather have others get upset with me for telling them the truth than have the Father get angry with me for preaching unbiblical messages. Paul’s message to Timothy in 2 Timothy 4 should be foremost on every person’s mind when they start a sentence with “God said.”
Please know that the pure message of our Heavenly Father, Jesus our Savior, and the Holy Spirit that dwells within all true believers does not change with passing time. What was given 2,000 plus years ago is the same as if just given today. What God called “abominations” are still just that.
Nothing that is happening today surprises Our Heavenly Trinity, as everything that is taking place is in prophecy as given to us in the Bible. Jesus plainly said in Luke 21:28 that when all these things “begin” to happen, His coming will not be very far off. We don’t know how long that “soon” will be, but it gets shorter each day.
Just remember 2 Thessalonians 2, which tells us there is an evil one waiting to come forth. He cannot appear before the “influence that restrains him” is removed. That would be the Holy Spirit, which means all those He indwells will be removed first. That would be the Rapture as described in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 and 1 Corinthians 15: 51-53.
Our Father will force no one to receive and accept the gift that is offered, but all who truly call on Jesus will be saved (Romans 10:13). Satan loves to try and pull as many believers away from the Savior as possible. He uses every evil temptation he can, and occasionally we do slip and sin. That is why God gives us the pathway to forgiveness in 1 John 1:8-10.
The Word is there for all to see, hear and read if anyone would so desire. There are some faux bibles out there, so be sure to get one that is from reliable sources. Any that would reference God as “she” or states that the “abominations” no longer apply need to be rejected; period.
We have the Word as our Savior. Please honor Him by giving out the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Amen!
Come, Lord Jesus!