1, But know this, that in the last days, grievous times will come.
2, For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3, Without natural affection, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, fierce [strong-willed], no lovers of good, [enjoys being naughty]
4, Traitors, headstrong [rebellion], conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God;
5, Holding a form of godliness, but having denied the power thereof [self-righteousness]. Turn away from these, also.
6, For of these are those who creep into houses, and take captive gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts,
7, Always learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. [Deceivers] (2 Timothy 3:1-7)
A Moral and Spiritual ⠠⠙⠑⠉⠇⠔⠑
The above passage of Scripture serves to testify of the current state of this world. This is especially prevalent for my generation. As a young adult who is preparing for her final year of high school, and as a former Vice President of a Christian club in a diverse campus, morality has become a taboo issue that desperately needs attention.
Many teenagers are being taught the value of unlimited autumnity at the expense of setting a morally sound value system, and examining the conscience. This is a form of independence that leads to rebellion and arrogance.
Seniors who are getting ready to graduate often are a perfect target to this epidemic. As many reach college, many drop out of church, forsake youth groups, and, in some situations, depart from the faith altogether. I have heard of many young teenagers who used to be devoted to Jesus who later experimented with Ouija Boards and tarot cards, and dived headfirst into the Church of Satan and other “dark” practices. Worse, they believe it’s merely a classic “3 AM challenge”.
Some have even sought to outright rebel against their parents, and provoke their teachers. Today, detentions and white slips no longer faze anyone, and the threat of being grounded seems to have been outdated and perceived as an ancient practice from the 90s. The worst punishment you could expect for teenagers who exhibit such behavior is having their gaming system taken away, but even then, they can still sneak it under the covers. Or at the max, having to attend the dreaded parent meeting where the dean ends in a discussion of “counseling and comforting” rather than actual consequences that teach them to exemplify the traits of God.
Lastly, because everyone delights in their sin, and they make vain promises like “I will change, I will change”, we have become an easy target for Satan– Being thrown around by the wind of strange doctrines, and being fed with nothing but sugar-daddy sermons that make us feel good and “lighten up the mood”. If you want to spirituably “feed” today’s church, there are three words you cannot say: Hell, Sin, and Satan.
We Need To Do Better
If we seriously are committed to walking as children of the light, we need to accept the reality that God has set some firm expectations for each of us. If we know right from wrong, and we claim to be a worker for Jesus Christ, we have absolutely no excuse for our inability to live as an example for the world: That will not be swayed nor compromise to every wind or curveball that is thrown at us. Satan is not afraid of the fact that we are Christians. Satan is afraid of Christians who LIVE as they claim, and will not be afraid to share the painful realities of the Gospel. It takes courage to tell your thirteen-year-old that Satan is a very real entity who wants you to perish in the Lake of Fire, and will destroy you through every means necessary. It’s a very bitter cup to drink and digest. Hidden within the bitter truth is the sweet aroma of salvation and the key to the Promised Land: Jesus Christ, and His shed blood on the cross for the sins of humanity.
It’s time to teach our young men and women to reverence and fear God, and love Him and His precious creation.
God has blessed me, a 17-year-old blind young girl, with the sacred privilege of writing on this blog– Not to just be a spectator who preaches the sweet candy of “comfortable living”, but to show the world, through my living testimony, who Satan is. I am not here to “dig for Satan” as many will perceive. I am here on this page to bring others OUT of the chains of Satan– by exposing his plans, and bringing others to the saving grace of Jesus through the spirit of encouragement, compassion, and fiery boldness. Here’s a question to prayerfully reflect on today as I close this presentation.
Are we truly willing to take the leap of faith, and remain a threat to Satan?
If I asked this in church or on the street, most people would just look at me funny. They might ask “What do you mean ‘do I know God’s name?’? It’s God! Well, yes and not exactly.
Today marks this anniversary and it is a good one because of what Paul wrote in his letter to the Roman church. We don’t have to give money to a specific church or doctrine or denomination in order for us to be saved. Jesus accomplished that for all of us on the cross by paying in full the debt which each person owes for their sins. Not just since His death and resurrection, but all the way back to Adam, the debt was paid and He led the captives free from bondage to sin or to an eternity in Hades or Abraham’s Bosom whichever you prefer.
I am a pastor and my wife and I try to tithe our ten percent, even if it is more than we can afford at times. It is true that sometimes we don’t tithe that much because of surprises which come up like doctor visits or other things which just happen. Even in the Great Depression people gave to the church at 3.3%! Not great, but better than we are doing today and they had far less that we have!
The Living Message of Christ 