Read: 2 Timothy 4:1-5
“Before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom, I solemnly charge you: proclaim the message; persist in it whether convenient or not; rebuke, correct, and encourage with great patience and teaching. For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will accumulate teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear something new. They will turn away from hearing the truth and will turn aside to myths. But as for you, keep a clear head about everything, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”
2 Timothy 1:7
“For God has not given us a spirit of fearfulness, but one of power, love, and sound judgment.”
Understand:
- What kind of spirit has God given us?
- What are we charged to do for Christ?
- What will some people turn away from?
- What will they believe instead?
- What four things are we told to do at the end of 2 Timothy 4:5?
- Why do you think it is important for us to use ‘sound judgment’ and ‘keep a clear head about everything?’”
Listen:
When I was in college, I took a class called Creation and Myths. The class focused on different cultures in multiple parts of the world and how those people saw creation. Where did people and the world come from? Here is what is interesting, some of the most secular cultures emphasized the basic concepts about creation that are given to us in the Bible in the book of Genesis. The details were a little different but the foundation remained the same. They didn’t necessarily proclaim God but confirmed that there was a Creator and often had a different name for The Creator. In this class, the Great Flood was also examined from the perspective of history and science. What proof was there that a flood actually covered the earth? It really was a remarkable class because it allowed us, as students, to understand the perspective of other cultures and compare them with what we knew from a Biblical standpoint. It also enabled us to strengthen our ability to proclaim Biblical Truth based upon scientific and historical findings that supported the information written in Scripture. The essential theory behind this study was that people know that there is a foundation that exists that is beyond only what we see or what we are told. There is a common ground that so many cultures have that dictates their beliefs as well as the way they live their life. Where does this common ground come from? How can it be that cultures had similar creation and the great flood theories when they existed in a time of no television, no phones, no way to tell other cultures about their beliefs? It wasn’t as if they could sit around eating barbecue together and bounce ideas back and forth across cultures or continents and yet, the similarities were quite remarkable.
This reminds me of something I read by C.S. Lewis. C.S. Lewis is known for his “Chronicles of Narnia” book series but if you’ve never read his non-fiction works, I encourage you to do so. One in particular is a favorite of mine and I have read it several times, it is called “Mere Christianity.” See, C.S. Lewis was a profound atheist before becoming a Christian and he gives insight on how his life was changed when he gave his life to Christ but he also provides an exceptional viewpoint from a person who was a non-believer but was still able to know that God existed whether he wanted to admit it or not. He talks about a Moral Law that exists with humans. This is something that every person knows exists and cannot ignore it even if they wanted to ignore it. It’s just there, imbedded inside of each person and we decide if we want to obey it or disobey it. One example he gives is that of murder. He explains that everyone knows that murder is wrong. It doesn’t matter where they are from or where they live now, murder is wrong. Where did that wrongness come from if it weren’t for an imbedded moral law? Something that every person knows but decides for themselves if they will follow it. Where did the moral law come from? Could this be the “sound doctrine” that is talked about in 2 Timothy chapter 4? We know the correct doctrine but if we choose to pursue our own desires over what that doctrine says, then our judgment is skewed. But, as a believer in Jesus, we are given “sound judgment” along with the power, through the Holy Spirit, to grasp onto the Truth.
There will be people who try to get others to see their viewpoint. We have to ask ourselves where this viewpoint is coming from and if it is based on Truth or just the desires of the one (or many individuals). We have the ability to discern Truth but we must exercise that ability and not fall under the guidance of people whose viewpoint is based on something besides Truth. We have to decide if we are willing to seek the Truth and stand up for that Truth, despite what the culture we live in tells us to do.
If you would like to get a bit more insight on C.S. Lewis, watch this video. It is just a portion of what is in “Mere Christianity” but it really puts things in perspective. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcRFYGr1zcg
Pray: Dear Heavenly Father, You have given us Truth through Your Word. Help us to make decisions and live our life in a way that is founded upon Your Truth. Help us to not be deceived by popular culture that twists Truth to fit their desires. Help us to hold onto the Truth and stand up for the foundation You have given us. In Jesus name we pray, amen.
Majacka Literary Creations 