2 Timothy 3:1-4 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.

”Brutal, haters of good” my, oh my, sounds like we are there to me. ”Last Days” are difficult and they will become increasingly more difficult.

The key two words are”Realize this.” The point God is communicating to us in this passage is, ”dont be surprised when things get bad, and than worse.” Why did God tell us this 2000 years ago? Maybe so that we would live our lives free of fear, and anxiety. Maybe so we would live our lives with confidence and strength. Maybe so we would live our lives with purpose and mission.

Revelation 12:12 ”Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time.”

The devil and his demons are immeasurably evil, and their goal is to deceive, tempt, and control people to be evil as well. Once this starts it accelerates at a faster and faster pace, getting worse by the day and by the hour.

Philippians 3:18-19
For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things.

My purpose and mission is in Daniel 12:3
”Those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.”

Daniel 12:9-10 ”Go your way, Daniel, for these words are concealed and sealed up until the end time. Many will be purged, purified and refined, but the wicked will act wickedly; and none of the wicked will understand, but those who have insight will understand.

Those who have insight will understand, they won’t wring their hands and be dismayed, because the worse it gets the closer we are to Jesus coming. God is in charge.

What is right? What is wrong? What is truth? What is false? What is good? What is bad? What is holy? What is evil?

Everyone has an opinion. I have an opinion. Who’s is right? My heart is easily deceived. My heart has a definite bent toward error.

There is a God, I know that, everybody knows that, He put that awareness in us. He created everything that exists. He is infinitely powerful. He is infinitely wise. He is infinitely good.

God created us in His image. He created us to be with Him, to know Him, to enjoy Him, and to love Him. He has communicated to us what is truth. He has communicated to us what is right and good. He has over the years orchastrated the writing of the Bible, His Word.

Psalms 19:7-8 The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul;
The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.

I want to know what is right and how to act right, so I read the Bible every day. I have a goal of reading 12 chapters every day, not to impress, but to know what is true. I study the Bible every day, attempting to decern what God wants me to know about Him, what His perfect will is for my life, and to know wisdom. I spend 30 minutes every day memorizing key portions of the Bible so I can meditate on it, so it will penetrate my heart and change my character to be like God’s.

Proverbs 1:7 Fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 10:21 fools die for lack of understanding.

Proverbs 10:23 Doing wickedness is like sport to a fool

Proverbs 12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes

Proverbs 13:16 a fool displays folly.

Proverbs 14:9 Fools mock at sin

Proverbs 14:16 a fool is arrogant and careless.

Proverbs 17:7 Excellent speech is not fitting for a fool,

Proverbs 18:2 A fool does not delight in understanding, But only in revealing his own mind.

Proverbs 18:6 A fool’s lips bring strife,

Proverbs 18:7 A fool’s mouth is his ruin, And his lips are the snare of his soul.

Proverbs 20:3 Keeping away from strife is an honor for a man, But any fool will quarrel.

Proverbs 26:11 Like a dog that returns to its vomit
Is a fool who repeats his folly.

Proverbs 29:9 When a wise man has a controversy with a foolish man, The foolish man either rages or laughs, and there is no rest.

Proverbs 29:11 A fool always loses his temper,

Titus 3:9 But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and strife and disputes about the Law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.

Avoid foolish controversies, strife, and disputes about politics, pandemics, riots, and shutdowns, for they are unprofitable and worthless.

It is so easy to get into a foolish controversy with others in these times. It is so easy just to get into a group rant about any number of things. It is so easy to get drawn into these ”discussions,” but the truth is they are ”unprofitable and worthless.”

The warning in the Bible is to avoid foolish controversies, so I will. I will review and remake this commitment daily.

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This last Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, a group of 11 of us from JBC rafted down the ”Wild and Scenic” part of the Rogue River. It was a wonderful time of being in God’s creation, enjoying the challenge of navigating class IV rapids without capsizing, relaxing by the river as we camped each night, and having great fellowship with each other.