Paul’s 2000-year-old description of wickedness in the last days seems eerily contemporary, doesn’t it? Can we doubt that all too many modern people are lovers of money or pleasure, rather than lovers of God? And as a result, should we be surprised at the pride and arrogance, the slander and brutality that fill our headlines?

But lest we Christians fall into pride ourselves, Paul reminds us that the Church is not immune from the same kinds of wickedness. Instead, he warns Timothy against those who have “the appearance of godliness, but deny its power” (v. 5) – and the sad truth is that all too many people today who claim the name of Christ at the same time have given up hope that the Holy Spirit can cleanse them of their addictions or besetting sins. Paul also describes those who are “always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth” (v. 7), and as many denominations and congregations are roiled with debates about human sexuality, all too many pastors and bishops fall into this category, insisting that the Bible isn’t clear, or that it doesn’t really mean what it says.

So what should we do about all this modern wickedness and confusion in both the world and in the Church? Paul’s answer is as simple as it is difficult: we must cling to the age-old Word of God. We must believe and live according to what the Bible says, regardless of the suffering that may come our way as a result (v. 12). We must stand only on the firm foundation of the Holy Scriptures, regardless of what anyone else may believe, and now matter how firmly our own reason or experience, our own traditions or emotions might object.

For we must remember that the Bible isn’t just a record of what long-dead people said and thought about God. No, the words of the Bible have been “breathed out by God.” That means that God made sure that the prophets and the apostles wrote the books of the Bible exactly the way He wanted them to turn out. And that’s why only the Bible can be the infallible guide for both our belief and practice, accurately teaching us right from wrong, correcting our wicked ideas and actions, and training our minds to think God’s thoughts after Him (v. 16). For it is only the Bible that can make us “wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” (v. 15).

So today, will we listen to the unbelieving world? Will we be led astray by our own inclinations? Or will we stand on the firm foundation of Christ and His Word?

II Timothy 3:1-17 (ESV)

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.
2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,
3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good,
4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
6 For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions,
7 always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.
8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith.
9 But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men.
10 You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness,
11 my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra– which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me.
12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
13 while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it
15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.