Tag: 2 Timothy 3:4

Are We in the End Times? Day 19

On December 8, 2021

(2 Ti 3:4) Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

What brings you pleasure, Reader? There are many different answers; especially today! This sin says that in the end times, people will be lovers of pleasure MORE than lovers of God. I believe everyone is guilty of this at some point or another – even Christians. Lovers of pleasures comes in different forms. There are so many worldly pleasures today: cell phones, drugs and alcohol, video games, theme parks, cruises, etc. Somewhere, someone will come up with something pleasurable which will distract the population even more.

But do pleasures really distract from God? As I said yesterday, the devil is hard at work trying to distract mankind from anything spiritual. He does not want man thinking about God and has, therefore, created so many pleasures to capture man’s attention. Just 200 years ago, there were few things distracting people, such as newspapers or town gossip. They did have telephones or televisions to distract them. They were busy with chores because they didn’t have modern conveniences. Today, we are bombarded with information all around us. It’s easy to find anything we want at the touch of our fingertips.

Here’s an assignment for you: take an inventory of the pleasures in your life and put them under one of two columns: Worldly and Godly. Do the results speak to you? I’m as guilty as the next person and this is convicting! Thank You, Lord! Nothing should be put ahead of God.

Putting God at the center of our pleasures will not only benefit us spiritually, but will be an act of obedience. The Bible has a lot to say about this:

(Mat 6:33) But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
(Mat 6:24) No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
(Col 3:2) Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
(Rom 8:5) For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

Is it any wonder that this sin is in the list for the end times? Just when I think technology can’t get any more advanced, I hear of something new! Just another attempt of Satan’s to distract people away from God. The result is lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. I don’t want to be in that category! I want the Lord to find me faithful and focused when He returns. I want to hear these words from the Lord:

(Mat 25:23) His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

If you happen to be reading this and are not saved, it is no coincidence. God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved. Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab to You Can Be Born Again and Know It!

Are We in the End Times? Day 18

By Kate Plourde

On December 7, 2021

In Devotionals, End Times

(2 Ti 3:4) Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

As I sit here in the wee hours this morning, I think of households waking up and going about their daily lives without any thoughts of God in their lives. How very sad it is that they do not have the privilege of approaching God’s throne and sharing what is on their heart! Most precious Heavenly Father, what would my life be like without You in it? Where would I be? I dare say that I would be in that place prepared for the devil and his angels, burning and suffering, for all eternity! I’m so thankful that You sent my dearest friend to show me how to be born again before I went through with my thoughts of ending my life! Thank You, Lord for your endless mercy! Thank You for the opportunity to tell others about You! Thank You for watching over me and keeping me under Your wings! Please bless this post today and lead others to it so they may be saved! In Jesus’ precious and holy Name I pray! Amen!

The Apostle Paul covered so many words in the first nine verses of 2 Timothy! Each word has to be taken all the more seriously because of the times in which we live. We are to take them as a warning; whether it is for you personally or for you to warn others. Salvation is for you personally! You are no better than anyone else and in need of forgiveness, just as much as that bum you look down upon. In fact, you need salvation more because it will be easier for a bum to get saved. That bum isn’t presumptuous at all. In fact, he knows the state he’s in better than you do.

That word highminded is an easy word and its definition isn’t complicated. It’s just another term for being proud or arrogant and it most definitely describes the attitude of many today. If it weren’t true, mankind would be humble and we all know this is not the case. Just try telling someone about the Lord and see the reaction you get. Man’s thoughts are not on spiritual matters. They do not see their sin and think they are above needing a Saviour. But alas, they are displaying the spirit of the antichrist. Lucifer was cast out of Heaven because of the sin of pride – he was highminded. The sins go hand-in-hand.

(Isa 14:12-15) How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! (13) For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: (14) I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. (15) Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

Lucifer (Satan) was so highminded and proud that he thought he could do better than God. So are the highminded people who live in today’s world. They think they don’t need God because they’re doing fine on their own. They attribute their success to their own efforts.

Our churches are filled with people but their hearts aren’t in it for God. They go through the motions but there’s no desire to have a close relationship with Him. Then once church is over, they’ve done their duty and they move on with their lives – lives that do not change.

(Mat 15:8-9) This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. (9) But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

It is this same high-mindedness, this pride and arrogance, that makes man think he is better than the prostitute, bum, or better than the drug addict. “As long as I don’t do what they do, I’m doing OK.” But are you? This contempt of others only serves to make the heart cold to the things of God. One presumes that he’s doing OK but that is the furthest thing from the truth. Just as Lucifer exalted himself, the world is doing the same today.

We must point people to Christ. He came to die for their sins as well.

(Rom 3:10) As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

This sin is no better or worse than let’s say lying. Any sin keeps us from entering Heaven; even just one sin. It is difficult to admit you need a Saviour if you suffer from the sin of high-mindedness/pride. However, it is not impossible. This sin makes one think you’re too good to go to Hell. Maybe you don’t even believe in Hell. I would rather be born again and find out that there is a Heaven and Hell than not believing and finding out it is real. What have you to lose? You have everything to gain by humbling yourself before God and admitting you are in need of salvation!

The devil knows his time is short and does not want anyone to get saved. The Holy Spirit of God is hard at work in these last days and is delaying the Rapture so that one more soul can be saved. Can that soul be you? Don’t let the sin of high-mindedness keep you from being born again. If you are born again and are guilty of this sin, confess and forsake it. You are no better than anyone else in the eyes of God. All are equal to Him.

Jump to Day 19

Are We in the End Times? Day 16

By Kate Plourde

On December 5, 2021

In Devotionals, End Times

(2 Ti 3:4) Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

Good morning, Reader! I pray you are being blessed by this series! Please leave me a comment, whether you’re in agreement or not. Today’s word was an eyeopener for me. I always thought the a traitor was a person who betrayed his country, like Benedict Arnold. But as I studied this word, I discovered there was a tad more to it!

Luk 6:16 And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor.
(Act 7:52) Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:

The same Greek word was used in today’s verse as well as the other two above:

G4273
προδότης
prodotēs
prod-ot’-ace
From G4272 (in the sense of giving forward into another’s [the enemy’s] hands); a surrender: – betrayer, traitor.
Total KJV occurrences: 3

Did you happen to notice that these two verses refer to Jesus’ betrayal? It causes me to think that the third occurrence of this same Greek word in 2 Timothy 3:4 could be referring to betrayers of Christ as well. If so, how much more have we seen the great falling away in Christianity than today? According to the Pew Research Center:

Currently, 43% of U.S. adults identify with Protestantism, down from 51% in 2009.

The 43% of those who identify with Protestantism (any religion that is not Catholic) does not mean that they are born again believers. It’s easy to do a Google search to find out just how many born again Christians there really are – and who is to know if they are truly born again or just saying they are because their parents were.

(Luk 18:8) I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

There are a lot of “Christians” out their in name only. They don’t read their Bibles, they don’t pray, nor do they practice the basic tenets of the faith. They have become as traitors to the very faith on which this country was founded. Our Constitution was built on this faith and Scripture is strewn throughout many of our government buildings and monuments. Granted our country was not without sin or error. But its foundation was solid until 1963.

There are many betrayers (traitors) of the faith. Satan is at the root of them all. Christ called Peter out on it when Peter didn’t want to admit that Jesus would be killed:

(Mat 16:23) But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

Jesus wasn’t saying that Peter was Satan but that Peter was speaking with the “spirit of Satan” – Peter wanted to stop the fact that Jesus would die. But the Scriptures had to be fulfilled so Christ could bear our sins on the cross. Scripture will also be fulfilled when Jesus comes again.

Religious people can be compared to traitors just as Judas Iscariot. They don’t point to salvation through Jesus Christ – instead they’re more interested in filling their pews and getting monetary gain. Isn’t this betraying the cause of Christ? Are we born again Christians any different? Are we also traitors of the cause of Christ? The decline of Christianity in America doesn’t lie on the shoulders of the unsaved. It rests on the shoulders of every born again believer because we are not actively telling others about Christ’s payment for their sin and His plan of salvation.

Search your heart, reader! Have you slacked off and, therefore, betrayed Jesus and His gospel? Or are you someone who was led to this blog in search of some answers. If you happen to be reading this and are not saved, it is no coincidence. God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved. Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab to You Can Be Born Again and Know It!

Jump to Day 17