2 Tim 4:2-4 – A Charge to Us All (Pt. 3)
2 Timothy 4:2-42 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. (ESV)
A time has been reached in our society. A time that is not news to anyone who knows God. A time which has been gathering for a long time. A time to spereate your views of societal norms from those of God’s norms. We, as followers of the one true God, are called to be servants, to “preach the word”, and to be heralds of his God-breathed Scripture.
This session I will focus on 2 Timothy 4:4.
2 Timothy 4:44 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. (ESV)
I have heard people blasting us crazy Christians for believing our “mythology” of the Bible. It always makes me sad. Not that they are making fun of us, I could care less, but the fact that they can’t realize they are the one following myths. Jesus is “…the way, and the truth, and the life…” (John 14:6). They are blind to the truth and enjoy wandering off into their myths.
Myths (Gk. mythos) in the NT is a negative term characterizing beliefs as fanciful, untrue, and even deceptive (2 Tim 4:4; Titus 1:14). Such myths were often used to excuse immoral behavior. With the later reference to the misuse of the law (1 Tim 1:7–10).
So what are todays myths that people follow? One of the biggest is that they are too smart to believe in God or any higher being. My response?
Psalm 53:1-353:1 The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”
They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity;
there is none who does good.2 God looks down from heaven
on the children of man
to see if there are any who understand,
who seek after God.3 They have all fallen away;
together they have become corrupt;
there is none who does good,
not even one. (ESV)
So, even the Scriptures call them a “fool”. Is this you? In your heart do you think there is no God? Are these God and church things you do just fire insurance? You might want to reevaluate your outlook then. Jesus is not interested in the ‘just in case’ follower. So you’re not the “on fire for God” type, but you don’t outright deny Jesus either. What does that make you?
Revelation 3:1616 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. (ESV)
Folks, it’s simple you are either for Him, or against Him. You aren’t just going going to ride the coat tales of being a decent person into eternity. You exist eternally in one of two places you choose.
Matthew 10:3333 but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven. (ESV)
I hear it preached that God is too merciful to allow anyone to suffer in hell, so it must just be scare tactics. God is Love there fore he could never send someone to hell. Well, true God is love, and he is a just God. In His love is also perfect justice. Perfect justice would not allow sin to abide with Him. Only Jesus can cover your sin. Not your works, not your intentions.
Hebrews 10:3030 For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” (ESV)
He is not punishing you. You are punishing yourself. You are only receiving the right judgement you demand for yourself. You taunt him to judge you. You set yourself as an adversary to Christ and don’t care about the consequences. Believe this, there will be a time when you truly realize your judgement is coming. It is up to you to admit it before it’s too late.
Hebrews 10:26-2726 For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. (ESV)
You have received the knowledge of the truth, and yet you turn your back on it either in blatant disregard , or in your lukewarm attitude.
2 Peter 3:1515 And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, (ESV)
There is still time! “count the patience of our Lord as salvation”. The wise will be prepared and sleep in confidence of their salvation, while the fools will sleep in a apathetic bliss thinking the Lord will not come before they have time to decide. He is coming when it pleases Him. Whether in a moment or a millennia. Just remember you have been warned.
Matthew 16:2727 For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done. (ESV)
These things are no joke, any more than Judgement day is a joke.
Please pray and think on your own about this topic. Do not base your views on societal norms. Man will deceive, God does not. You are responsible to God for your actions. “Everyone else was doing it” will not be an acceptable excuse on the day of judgment.
Matthew 7:21-2321 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ (ESV)
