TOPIC: THE CHRISTIAN LIFE AND MATTERS ARISING IX
TEXT: 2 Timothy 3:1-5 MEMORY VERSE: 2 Timothy: 3:14a

Introduction: Christians today, who are spiritually attuned even in the slightest, know this world is returning to the Sodom and Gomorrah level of perversion. Good is being more and more called evil, and evil, called good. Homosexuality is now an alternate lifestyle. More than this, same-sex relationships are being given governmental stamps of approval, making them like marriage between a man and a woman. Governments’ edict that baby whales must be saved at all costs; human babies must be killed in the womb, as a matter of convenience. The Bible can't be read, or God's name mentioned in public schools, but the FCC Commissioners have determined the "F" word is now okay for network broadcasters to use over public airwaves. Nativity scenes and the Ten Commandments cannot be displayed in public places.

The executive director of the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union), Anthony Romero, has led an unrelenting crusade against the display of the Ten Commandments from all public places in the US and he has been successful! In Ohio, Richland County Common Pleas Judge James DeWeese had a framed poster of the Ten Commandments in his courtroom. The ACLU sued and the Ten Commandments came down. Compare that to the late New York judge Elliott Wilk, who famously displayed a portrait of communist revolutionary Che Guevara on his office wall. (Che, Castro, Hussein -- evidently the only bearded revolutionary these people don't like is Jesus Christ.) And yet, no one from Ohio ever sued Wilk. If a country that has this inscription on its currency “In God we trust” could push God in whom they trust out, then clearly we are living in perilous times.

Paul told Timothy that……people would be unthankful, unholy and without natural affection:

1. Unthankful: A person who is ungrateful and will not repay with thanks for any good done to him/her. The word here used occurs in the New Testament only in these two places (2Tim3:2 and Luke 6:35). Ingratitude has always been regarded as one of the worst of crimes. It is said here that it would characterize that wicked age of which the apostle speaks, and its prevalence would, as it always does, indicate a decline of religion. Religion makes us grateful to every benefactor - to God, and to man. It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord (Ps 92:1). There is much, under all circumstances, to be thankful for: life, health, food, raiment, air, water, friends, recollections, hopes - and, above all, the blessings of redemption, and the assurance that we may be happy forever. Many of these things may be found in the condition of all; but if all else fail, the hope of heaven - the assurance that the Redeemer died - the offer of salvation - cannot fail. That is ours, and cannot be taken away.
Thankfulness brings a desirable state of mind, happiness, contentment, peace. A gloomy mind makes all things around gloomier; an unthankful mind is an unhappy mind; a murmuring, complaining, dissatisfied mind makes its possessor wretched, and all around him/her miserable. Anyone who is ungrateful to God cannot show any proper appreciation to man!
2. Unholy: Not holy, not sacred or hallowed, impious, sinful, dreadful and wicked! Holiness is a commodity that is fast disappearing. If one abstains from sex before marriage he/she is described as archaic! To insist on what is true, honest, just, pure, lovely, good report, right, noble,(Phi 4:8) will elicit strong aversion from people these days. Catchy words like, “you have to be smart” (meaning-cheat or use any unholy method) to achieve an aim have become the norm! How genuine are you in your business dealings? How did you pass that examination or interview? How did you land that job or position? “……and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord” (Heb 12:14). You can’t see the Lord if you living as the Apostle prophesied!
3. Without natural affection: The total lack of fond attachment, devotion, or love. The times are perilous when men will not be held by the bonds either of nature or common honesty, when they are without natural affection. There is a natural affection due to all. Wherever there is the human nature, there should be humanity towards those of the same nature, but especially between relations. Times are perilous when children are disobedient to their parents (2Ti_3:2) and when parents are without natural affection to their children, 2Ti_3:3. See what a corruption of nature sin is, how it deprives men even of that which nature has implanted in them for the support of their own kind; for the natural affection of parents to their children is that which contributes very much to the keeping up of mankind upon the earth. We are witnessing extreme forms of wickedness as never before, babies, the weak, invalid, the aged, pregnant women etc who should elicit strong love and show of support have become soft target for the wicked! This is what happens when Jesus is pushed so far out of human affairs!