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)

Sin Does Not Change

The fall of man happened so many thousands of years ago; no one knows the exact date. All that is known is that Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden when Satan deceived the woman to take the forbidden fruit, and she gave some to Adam. Sin separated God from man, and the story of humanity continues to struggle with sin. Cast out of the garden, Adam and Eve were the headwaters of the history of the world, where sin would cast a veil of darkness over the world.

God saw the wickedness of man was great, and that every intent and thought of the heart was evil. The Lord destroyed everyone on the face of the earth because of sin. Only Noah and his family were saved. God raised up Israel to be His special people, but they, too, fell under the sway of sin and were destroyed. Jesus came into the world to bring humanity the path of salvation. Through His blood, the answer to sin was given, but sin still abounds in the world. There is one thing that is absolute about sin: it does not change.

Paul warned Timothy that the darkness of sin was perilous. He describes the nature of sin as the lust of the eye, lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. The list Paul gives Timothy is an astonishing library of the nature of sin. It begins with the selfish desires of the heart leading to the destruction of the soul as man seeks the pleasures of the flesh rather than lovers of God. Sin exalts the heart of man to think he is his own god. He loves his money, boasting of his power, proud to be in charge of his life, and blaspheming the nature of the Creator. Families are destroyed because children are taught to be like their parents. Youth are unthankful, unholy, and unloving because they emulate the spirit of their peers.

Mercy vanishes from the hearts of men who refuse to forgive others, slandering their neighbors, living lives of uncontrolled passion and desire. They become brutal in how they treat others, leading to road rage, mass murder, disrespect for authority, and rebellion against everything law. Good is despised. Neighbors hate each other; arrogance reigns in haughty hearts, where people believe themselves gods among their peers. The rich and famous are admired. Young people waste their lives seeking to be like their idols. Pleasure is desired more than anything, and anything will be done to attain it. There is no love of God in their hearts. Pornography fills the mind, envy corrupts the heart, and anger fuels the mouth.

Perilous times are the modern canvas on which men paint their lives. Paul wrote these warnings two thousand years ago, and the unchained passion of sin remains as strong today as then. Satan continues to barrage the hearts of men with the love of the flesh and the pride of the heart. Sin has not changed, and the tactic of the evil one remains the same. Some believe sin is worse today than before, but sin remains the same. It destroys lives and damns souls to perdition. Only through the blood of Christ can man wash away his sin. Thank God for Jesus Christ.