But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! (2 Timothy 3:1-5)

Headline America

The Bible describes the eternal plan of salvation wrought through the grace of God sending His only begotten Son into the world to save the world. There is no doubt that the veracity of what is found on the pages of holy writ magnifies the wonderful love of God for humanity. The Bible is a multi-faceted book of insight into people’s character regardless of culture, historical timestamp, or moral persuasion. One of the clear messages of the word of God is how it constantly describes in detail the way of man with God.

Paul is nearing his death when he writes to Timothy about the coming perilous times. He was not writing to a specific moment in time exclusive to a singular event. The last days have been going on for nearly two thousand years, and the nature of man seeking wisdom without God remains unchanged. Paul does not introduce anything new to the world Timothy lived in. Some aspects of the Roman world are far more degrading and degenerate than what is found in America today. Still, it is easy to read the text of Paul’s letter and see how true the character of man’s failure remains the same.

There will always be difficult times in the affairs of humanity. These are grievous and terrible times when the putridity of human wisdom is on full display for history to record its failures. Reading Paul’s description of the perilous times is ripped from the headlines of The Daily Journal of America. People will love only themselves and their money. Everything is about wealth and having more stuff. The lottery fans the seeds of greed and covetousness. Debt is enormous for most families. The vanity of the human body has created an industry of plastic surgery, drugs, weight loss, body sculpturing, piercings everywhere, body art, etc.

The world is filled with boastful and proud people who scoff at God, are disobedient to their parents, and are ungrateful. This movement and that movement destroy sacred institutions long held as foundational to the community. The home is eviscerated with transgenderism, homosexuality, divorce, and sexual immorality. It’s a “me, me, me” world at the cost of young children victimized by a cruel society. Politicians cannot define what a woman is. A woke society seeks to recreate a world that does not exist. There is nothing sacred.

Communities have become war zones of neighbors against neighbors (there are shows highlighting the conflict). People have become unloving and unforgiving. Respect for authority has disappeared. It is common for people to slander others and have no self-control over anything. Good things are scoffed at and vilified. People are cruel to one another, even the aged. Friends will betray their friends. Pride exalts the nation to become filled with its own self-worth. Religion and a belief in God will increasingly come under attack as American rejects the need to believe “In God We Trust.” Many will act religiously and have no concept of obedience to the word of God.

Headline America is filled with the message of Paul. Warned by the Holy Spirit, it should not come as a surprise when the world turns away from God. These are perilous times, which have been around since Adam and Eve lost the garden. Sin is at the root of the problem. Jesus came to offer the solution to the problem, and until men accept the message of Jesus Christ, perilous times will exist. The good news is the kingdom of God will never fail, and in the darkest days of perilous times, lights of glory shine in the hearts of those saints who reject the world and live for God. A little leaven goes a long way. Be that leaven in a perverse generation and a light in a very dark world.