The Fruit of Falling
Paul told Timothy that in the last days,there would be a large portion of the church-going world that would deny the real power of God, or the necessity of an all-in relationship with Him:
2 Timothy 3:1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
Paul is describing people who would consider themselves believers, although they would have little real trust in God's power. They may or may not show up on Sunday, but their hearts would be far from God. Thinking that holding to a form of religion was important, but indifferent to an actual relationship with God, not realizing He was the source of man's strength.
Paul describes how that will be demonstrated in their lives (the fruit of our actions reveals what is in our heart): self-centered, focused on money, careless with God's name or His words, lacking self-control, desiring pleasure over time with God, despising good things in others lives, and more...
Paul wasn't telling Timothy to purge these traits from his life in order to be acceptable to God. Paul was saying that to live comfortably with one or all of these traits reveals a heart that denies God's real power, is indifferent to the incredible privilege of knowing the Creator of the Universe.
But God wants to reveal His very real power in my life! God wants me to live fascinated with who He is, and what He does. Not self-centered, God-centered! He wants to make me a shining example of what He is willing to do in a life turned over to Him, indifferent to the world's pale definition of pleasure in light of what real pleasure and delight feel like. When I have tasted real fascination with God...hearing His words in my heart, listened to Him reveal His plans for me, seeing Him miraculously work out circumstances, bringing me into His plans to unlock others and seeing them succeed...then it is nearly impossible to be indifferent to Him!
There is a dynamic separating of light and darkness described in the Bible that reaches its fullness just before Jesus returns. The dark WILL get darker, and the light WILL get brighter. God promises to show the darkness, including the world's shallow attempts to fascinate the human heart or provide satisfactions for the longings built into it, for what it is.
But God also promises to make an example of those who actively choose to draw nearer and nearer to His light. Like a tree that reaches for more light, we were meant to reach for God. He won't force Himself into my life, but what would God do with a person who reaches to live in His presence, to be all in for Him? What would God do with a person who reaches for Him as their first and only plan? A person who sees the possibility of satisfying the longings in their heart through a connection to the one who individually fashioned their heart?!
His promise is to set them on a rock, make them secure, and teach many through them!
If a tree stops reaching for light, it literally stops growing. The same is true for me! There is a time of trouble at the door, I want to be strong and secure in God, reaching for Him with my words, pointing my desire to Him, with my roots growing deep into the solid rock.
Psalm 27:4 One thing I have desired of the Lord, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the Lord, And to inquire in His temple. 5 For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock. 6 And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me; Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord. 7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice! Have mercy also upon me, and answer me. 8 When You said, “Seek My face,” My heart said to You, “Your face, Lord, I will seek.”
2 Timothy 3:1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
Paul is describing people who would consider themselves believers, although they would have little real trust in God's power. They may or may not show up on Sunday, but their hearts would be far from God. Thinking that holding to a form of religion was important, but indifferent to an actual relationship with God, not realizing He was the source of man's strength.
Paul describes how that will be demonstrated in their lives (the fruit of our actions reveals what is in our heart): self-centered, focused on money, careless with God's name or His words, lacking self-control, desiring pleasure over time with God, despising good things in others lives, and more...
Paul wasn't telling Timothy to purge these traits from his life in order to be acceptable to God. Paul was saying that to live comfortably with one or all of these traits reveals a heart that denies God's real power, is indifferent to the incredible privilege of knowing the Creator of the Universe.
But God wants to reveal His very real power in my life! God wants me to live fascinated with who He is, and what He does. Not self-centered, God-centered! He wants to make me a shining example of what He is willing to do in a life turned over to Him, indifferent to the world's pale definition of pleasure in light of what real pleasure and delight feel like. When I have tasted real fascination with God...hearing His words in my heart, listened to Him reveal His plans for me, seeing Him miraculously work out circumstances, bringing me into His plans to unlock others and seeing them succeed...then it is nearly impossible to be indifferent to Him!
There is a dynamic separating of light and darkness described in the Bible that reaches its fullness just before Jesus returns. The dark WILL get darker, and the light WILL get brighter. God promises to show the darkness, including the world's shallow attempts to fascinate the human heart or provide satisfactions for the longings built into it, for what it is.
But God also promises to make an example of those who actively choose to draw nearer and nearer to His light. Like a tree that reaches for more light, we were meant to reach for God. He won't force Himself into my life, but what would God do with a person who reaches to live in His presence, to be all in for Him? What would God do with a person who reaches for Him as their first and only plan? A person who sees the possibility of satisfying the longings in their heart through a connection to the one who individually fashioned their heart?!
His promise is to set them on a rock, make them secure, and teach many through them!
If a tree stops reaching for light, it literally stops growing. The same is true for me! There is a time of trouble at the door, I want to be strong and secure in God, reaching for Him with my words, pointing my desire to Him, with my roots growing deep into the solid rock.
Psalm 27:4 One thing I have desired of the Lord, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the Lord, And to inquire in His temple. 5 For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock. 6 And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me; Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord. 7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice! Have mercy also upon me, and answer me. 8 When You said, “Seek My face,” My heart said to You, “Your face, Lord, I will seek.”
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