When Paul talks about the “last days” he is talking about the whole period between Christ’s first and second coming. This is the last age of history as we know it. During this age, and increasingly towards its end, there will be, as Paul says, “terrible times.” Paul is not being defeatist when he says this. He believed that the church would be victorious in its mission, but he also saw, in accordance with Jesus’ teaching, an increasing polarisation towards the end. The brighter the light, the darker the shadows. And the darker it is, the more distinctly does the light shine. If you feel that the world around you is becoming more ‘ungodly’, don’t despair. For this is bound to happen. It would be worse to live in a society with a thin veneer of godliness yet without its true power. If you don’t like the world as it is, that’s okay, you are not meant to like it (1 John 2:15). Don’t judge the world, that’s God’s prerogative. Simply shine the light of faith, hope and love. Things will get darker still, but the night is always darkest before the dawn. Don’t be fooled by the myth of humanistic progress. All attempts to create political and technological utopias will fail. In fact, the persist attempts to bring these about will probably make things worse. Only God can bring about “a new heavens and a new earth.” Again, focus on shining the light of faith, hope and love. Don’t get frustrated. Just rest in your peace, for that is a rare thing in this world.
Ask God to give you love for others, faith in him and hope in what he is doing.
Read 2 Timothy 3:1-9
