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Today’s Reading:  Proverbs 22, I Timothy 2-4

 Guest Blogger:  Dwight Trotter

 I Tim 4:1-3
“Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.”

Kind of an odd combination of conditions and symptoms, wouldn’t you say?  Especially for Paul, who is known for his surgically precise, well-reasoned writings. Not one given to rambling. So what’s really being pointed out here?

Well, first of all, when Paul speaks of “the latter days,” he is not talking about the last seven years before Christ’s return. He’s speaking in terms of the time between Christ’s resurrection and now. However much longer these days last, we have been in the latter days since Jesus’ resurrection. So the conditions Paul was describing have been in effect since then. In other words, yes, they’re happening around us now and have been all our lives.

There seems to be a progression shown in this teaching. First, one departs from the faith. Maybe a conscious decision to look elsewhere for “truth,” maybe unresolved pain and anger at God, perhaps just a lackadaisical attitude toward one’s relationship to Christ. Whichever occurs, now there is a susceptibility to doctrines of demons and deceiving spirits. The lies that have been told by these spirits are now repeated as the recipient’s conscience is no longer functional. And how do these false doctrines manifest? Right back to a righteousness based on works. “… forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received…”

Seems like a favorite tactic of the enemy. He has been telling variations of the same lies since the Garden of Eden. If we can know truth outside of knowing The Truth, if we can be holy based on our own efforts, then can’t we “be as God”? If we can become wise without acknowledging the fountainhead of wisdom, do we need His holy Word? And do we really need a Savior? If we have in each of us a “divine spark” that only needs to be fanned in order to make us righteous and justified before a holy God, do we need to humble ourselves before His Son and plead that blood as the only way to Him?

So, in light of the knowledge that these forces are working night and day to deceive us, what do we need to do to be sure we are not among those who are led astray?

Actually, there is no need to fear if we: 

1. Value, over all else, our relationship to Jesus Christ. What we value we give time and attention to.
2. Commit to a lifetime of study in His Word. He will continue to enrich us with wisdom and insight, which will mature us, prosper us, and make us more capable ministers to those around us.
3. Believe His word. He says we know His voice and another we will not follow because we are the sheep of His pasture.

Love Him, worship Him and Him alone, revere His word and presence, and relax! Nothing can take you out of His grip!

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