This know also, that in the last days
perilous times shall come. For men shall be
lovers of their own selves, covetous,
boasters, proud, blasphemers,
disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
without natural affection, truce breakers,
false accusers, incontinent,
fierce, despisers of those that are good,
traitors, heady, highminded,
lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
having a form of godliness, but denying
the power thereof: from such turn away.
2Timothy 3:1-5
The words of Paul to Timothy not only applied to those based Timothy apply to men and women and is so clearly seen in the historical facts of nations and peoples. the facts of history are the same facts of today and it's clearly manifested in the way people live, speak, act, not only with in the secular world that same cultural Christianity and in their churches. Self-deception is common for all men and women and this self-deception is reinforced by those who have come to believe, as Paul stated, a gospel that is not the Gospel. A common denominator of mankind is that they hate change and will not, or afraid to, ask questions because they are afraid of the answers. And all saying "we never done it this way before," causes men and women to not ask questions and to believe that which is sounding so good to their ears. Men and women love to be entertained and in some churches in the entertainment is what draws people to that church and often that entertainment is much like that of the secular world. Oh! There may be Christian words within the lyrics of a song, yet that song is sung by men and women with ear rings through their noses and eyebrows, tattoos all over their body and hair that is camp and dancing around the like some lunatic. This causes such euphoric reaction, and the emotional reaction that many think that they're being led to godliness. God is looking for Authentic Christian Faith, not just intellectually, for men and women who have a heart filled passion for the truths of the Bible according to the Bible and then put that Authentic Christian Faith into action.
The only certainty of life is death. Another certainty of life is change. At various times in the history of a man and woman self-deception comes in various forms and manners and this can only be confronted with proper self evaluation. A person must have an accurate assessment of themselves, with this assessment we need to focus on that area of our life that causes us the most to be susceptible. Many women not to be careful when they use some sort of strength or virtue that comes naturally to a person's disposition and into use as a guide to our true state. The evaluation we need to use in our life is to judge ourselves in exactly the opposite way, that is, to focus on our weaknesses and meant to focus on our strengths. A good result of this self-evaluation is where a person allows themselves to not settle for less than what God requires. This would mean of course: YOU MUST DENY YOURSELF! To combat sin, a sin that we know much about and in this time in our life were able to win this battle is not a time to let our guard down for their ascendance that were not as aware of and they can creep in unannounced. This does not mean that if you come to understand that there is this problem and you are the problem then you have the solution, you need to change your self from the inside/out, you must consider your faith. Temptations come and they go, a new form of a temptation will come and it will go but if there is no true transformation than whether it is a known sin or one that is not known who will fall short of being an Authentic Christian.
The hint for today: take time to self evaluate and use the Bible as the litmus test.
All a man's way seems innocent to him,
but motives are weighed by the LORD.
Commit to the LORD what ever you do,
and your plans will succeed.
Proverbs 16: 1 -- 2
Take the Test Today
Richard L. Crumb
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