BUILT TO LAST: THE SKY MIGHT BE FALLING…BUT GOD!

Pastor Jonathan Falwell 

2 Timothy 3-4 (NKJV) 

Today, we come to the concluding statements of Paul’s second letter to Timothy. It is also Paul’s concluding statements period. It was not long after he wrote these words that he was killed in Rome. His reminder to be faithful is absolute. No matter what we may face, following Jesus is the best possible plan with the best potential outcome. Life might be incredibly difficult, but God will always come through.

1. The Sky is Falling 

2 Timothy 3:1-7 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! 6 For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of 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

• “the last days” refers to the time from the day of Pentecost until the rapture of the church
• This list of sinful actions and attitudes is a clear descriptor of the current day
• Danny Akin writes: “Putting this in contemporary terms, Paul notes three inordinate loves: narcissism (love of self), materialism (love of money), and hedonism (love of pleasure).”[i]
• Rick Warren says it this way: “He said the first temptation is the temptation “to be” (narcissism), the second is the temptation “to feel” (hedonism), and the third is the temptation “to have” (materialism).[ii]
• Paul’s advice to Timothy is to simply stay away!

2. But it’s all good

Vss 10-15 But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, 11 persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

• Paul reminds Timothy that while the above is true, Timothy knows what’s right
• He encourages that regardless of the surrounding chaos, God will protect those who follow Him
• No matter that “badness” that exists, we must continue to walk in truth

Vs 16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

• Vernon McGee – “The writers of Scripture were not just pens that the Lord picked up and wrote with. The marvel is that God used these men’s personalities, expressed things in their own thought patterns, yet got through exactly what He wanted to say. Through these men God has given us His Word. He has nothing more to say to us today. If He spoke out of heaven today, He wouldn’t add anything to what He has already said.”[iii]

3. Be faithful

2 Tim. 4:1-5 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: 2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

• “What should believers expect to be the standard of authority at their local churches? Feelings? Intellect? Tradition? Paul says there is only one standard by which a church is to properly function: God’s Word. The Bible—and only the Bible—is the final authority for Christian individuals, families, churches, and even the broader culture.[iv]” – Tony Evans
• Paul tells Timothy it is his responsibility to use the Word to show people the errors of their way and encourage them back to walking with God
• A church that focuses more on making people feel good rather than helping people know truth might be a popular place, but it serves no purpose
• Our job is to point people to the truth—the Gospel!

4. Because God is faithful

Vss 6-8 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

• Warren Weirsbe said, “Next to losing one’s soul and going to hell, the greatest tragedy of life would be to come to the brink of eternity and discover we had missed God’s will and wasted our lives on fruitless, transient things.”[v]
• Live your life so the same could be said of you

Vss 16-18 At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them.17 But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. 18 And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!

• Even if you must stand alone, stand anyway!

[i] Daniel L. Akin, Exalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2013), 185.

[ii] Daniel L. Akin, Exalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2013), 186.

[iii] J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible Commentary: The Epistles (1 and 2 Timothy/Titus/Philemon), electronic ed., vol. 50 (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1991), 124.

[iv] Tony Evans, The Tony Evans Bible Commentary (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2019), 1297.

[v] Warren W. Wiersbe, Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the New Testament (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1992), 652.