In Philippians 3:12-14, Paul encourages all of us to live a life that pleases God, saying:
“Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which I also was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead,
I press on toward the goal to win the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
But in 2 Timothy 3:1-5 Paul warns us again that in the last days difficult times will come. He says:
“For people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, haters of what is good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God — having a form of godliness but denying its power. Avoid such people.”
All of this is to remind us of the times we are living in — so we may be alert and walk closer to God, because moral and spiritual decay is seen everywhere today.
Spiritual decay:
– People persist in living in sin and do not care about God’s will.
– People have lost the fear and reverence of God.
– They refuse to repent or acknowledge God’s sovereignty.
– They call evil good and good evil.
– They despise God’s commandments and principles.
– They mock God.
– They speak about God, but they do not believe in Him and make no time for Him.
– They do not want Christ Jesus as the priority of their lives.
– Idolatry increases, and people forget that Christ Jesus is the only way, truth, and life.
Moral decay:
– Lack of respect for marriage.
– Lack of respect for elders.
– Lack of respect for the law.
– Alarming increase in drunkenness, partying, and drug use, leading to all kinds of addictions.
– Children are not raised in the ways of God.
– Disagreements and division within families.
– Increase in immorality in every sense.
– Increase in perversity.
– Increase in corruption and lack of integrity.
– Increase in pride and arrogance.
– Increase in carnality (Galatians 5:19-21), even within God’s house.
Psalm 34:11-14 says:
“Come, children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
Who is the one who desires life and loves long days to see good?
Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.
Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.”
Isaiah 59:1-2 says:
“Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor His ear too dull to hear.
But your iniquities have separated you from your God;
your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.”
God made us a promise in 2 Chronicles 7:14:
“If My people, who are called by My name, humble themselves, pray, seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sins, and heal their land.”
God is still here for all of us.
Written by Pastor Marcel Balootje.