Whether you believe the End Times began with the ascension of Christ or that they are still ahead, no one can argue that the following descriptions are apt for the days in which we are currently living.
3 1-5 Don’t be naive. There are difficult times ahead. As the end approaches, people are going to be self-absorbed, money-hungry, self-promoting, stuck-up, profane, contemptuous of parents, crude, coarse, dog-eat-dog, unbending, slanderers, impulsively wild, savage, cynical, treacherous, ruthless, bloated windbags, addicted to lust, and allergic to God. They’ll make a show of religion, but behind the scenes they’re animals. Stay clear of these people.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 MSG
But understand this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2 For people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, slanderers, without self-control, savage, opposed to what is good, 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, loving pleasure rather than loving God. 5 They will maintain the outward appearance of religion but will have repudiated its power. So avoid people like these.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 NET
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!
2 Timothy 3:1-5 NKJV
In whatever Bible version you read these verses, the warning is clear: we are not to be the kind of people described and we are to avoid, turn away, and stay clear of those who are.
It is too easy to adopt the habits and attitudes of those around us. As believers, we have been forewarned not to be conformed to the world, but to immerse ourselves in God’s Word so we may resist the temptation to merge into the mainstream, especially when the mainstream is so clearly displaying the attitudes and actions of the difficult days described in 2 Timothy 3:1-5.
Pick your favorite versions, but take the words to heart. These are perilous times, indeed.
Power Walking with Jonna 