January 16
WHAT CAUSES PERILOUS TIMES?
-2ND Timothy 3:1 states, … This know also, that in the last days perilous ( dangerous ) times shall come
… The fact that perilous times are here is no big secret. Just listen to the nightly news, read the newspapers, or watch
t.v. All you will hear is a report of increasingly perilous times. Since it is not a surprise that we are currently in perilous
times, the more important question concerning this thought would be, WHAT CAUSES PERILOUS TIMES? Have you ever considered
what actually brings on or causes these dangerous times in which we live? The key to answering this question is to be found
in the very next verse. Vs. 2 states, ... MEN SHALL BE LOVERS OF THEIR OWN SELVES, … So as we can see, the cause of
perilous times is a LOVE OF SELF as opposed to a love of God! Let us now take a look at the UGLINESS of self and what it produces.
-The love of self causes us to become:
1.Covetous
2.Boasters
3.Proud
4.Blasphemers
5.Disobedient
6.Unthankful
7.Unholy
8.Without Natural Affection
9.Truce Breakers
10.False Accusers
11.Incontinent
12.Fierce
13.Despisers Of Those That Are Good
14.Traitors
15.Heady
16.Highminded
17.Lovers Of Pleasures
18.Not A Lover Of God
19.A Form Of Godliness
20.One Who Denies The Power Of God
-What an ugly list! Look at what the love of self produces. May we understand the disgusting results and fruit that the
love of self produces. So what is the answer? The answer is THE DEATH OF THE SELF-LIFE. This is obviously the opposite
of the love of self. Bill Britton was a man with incredible insight into the things of God. Here is a quote from him concerning
this very topic … “When you are forgotten, or neglected, or purposely set at naught, and you don’t sting
and hurt with the insult or the oversight, but your heart is happy, being counted worthy to suffer for Christ, THAT IS DYING
TO SELF.” (Bill Britton)
-Let us realize that if the love of self produces perilous times, that the death of self will produce peaceful times. This
is the very peace of God that the creation is longing for. Revelation 12:11 states, … and they overcame him ( Satan
) by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they LOVED NOT THEIR LIVES UNTO THE DEATH …
-LOSE YOUR LIFE FOR HIS NAME’S SAKE!-
