DISAMBIGUATION

I Was Just Thinking About – DISAMBIGUATION.

The world is experiencing some events that are described as last day calamities. The politician will argue for a New Green Deal rather than God having stated such events will occur when evil is increasing in the world. The Secularist will always argue that since, in their thinking and mindset, there is no supreme being in control of the universe, there is no basis for one grasping for straws and hope of a better world or a better tomorrow by appealing to the non-existent God. Some wring their hands as they ponder why bad things seem to happen frequently with and to good people. Some have tried to sort out all of these inner conflicts and cultural viewpoints under a heading stated to be disambiguation.

A phrase that is a subject of interest for those concerned with disambiguation is: “You ain’t seen nothing yet.” Regardless of the various secular and cultural delineations, the greater focus should be on the Biblical view of the present and future. There is nothing ambiguous about the statements of Jesus in passages such as Mark 13 and Matthew 24. Jesus instructs that things will not remain as they are. There will be various events occurring that will go from bad to worse to even more worse.

On the Day of Pentecost, Peter is preaching and quotes from the prophet Joel (Acts 2:17-21) about catastrophic events that can and will occur: “…And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day…” There is nothing ambiguous being stated. Joel prophesied and Peter proclaimed this message with certainty.

The Apostle Paul wrote in II Timothy 3:1-7 warning about the cultural and personal changes that will prevail in the last days: (Vs. 1) “But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.” It substantiates a reality that the world will become more and more evil before the return of Jesus Christ. The world will become increasingly hostile toward the authentic Biblical Christian. Sin will increase at an alarming rate. Persecution of believers and the Church will become more violent. God’s Word and Commands will be hated and denied. The Biblical Church will continue to grow but will do so amid persecution and rampant corruption in the world.

Paul goes on to describe the behaviors that will emerge (Vs. 2-5): "For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, arrogant, boastful, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power…”

On the website: Relevant Bible Teaching, a summary of the individual's aspirations is stated as: “People will act tough and strong or as if they have it all together and have arrived just because weakness will be frowned upon and scorned. People will gloat in themselves, being self-promoting, and heralding their own glory and achievements.” Paul instructs Timothy (II Timothy 3:7), “Avoid such men (people) as these.”

Why would Paul make such a statement to Timothy (and us)? The answer is that our task is: (1) to become holy as God is holy; (2) to edify one another; (3) to encourage fellow-authentic followers of Jesus Christ; (4) to implement Micah 6:8 (NLT), “The Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” On the one hand, you are to be prepared for things in the world going from worse to worse. On the other hand, you are to be committed to continue doing what is right; to continue to love mercy; and to continue to walk humbly with your God - The Almighty God.

Prayerfully – consider these things with me.