In this present day the name Christian is used in a very general way. It is often applied to any who live in so-called Christian countries as distinguishing them from people in heathen lands. But the Spirit of God outlines the moral characteristics of this age when men are “lovers of self, disobedient to pants, and having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.” 2 Tim. 3:1-51This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. (2 Timothy 3:1‑5). It is all the more necessary to urge upon the young and inexperienced to beware of the spirit of the age. It is only by faith in Christ and a desire and exercise to please Him, that anyone can be delivered from this influence. Thus in the next verses the son is here entreated to treasure up in his heart those godly precepts learned in his early years from his father and mother. “Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck. When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest it shall keep thee;... For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life.” How many, in looking back, have to thank God for a godly father and mother who sought to bring up their children in that good way, “in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”
Chapter 7 opens with a fresh fatherly appeal to his son individually. A picture is drawn of a young man classed as being void of understanding and drawn into the worst of corruption — moral evil. The appeal to him is: “My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee.” There is not only the need for dependence upon the Lord when the trial comes, but the positive value of the truth and the purposes of His will that are needed to guard one beforehand. The soul in this manner is inwardly strengthened beforehand against snares from without. So we have further, “Keep my commandments, and live.” When our wills are active, the teaching which comes from the Lord, instead of being food for the soul, is set aside, and a self-willed course ends in a fall. We are admonished here to keep “my law as the apple of thine eye” (that which is nearest and dearest).
As believers, we are not in the flesh in our standing before God on account of our deliverance through the work of Christ on the cross. But we still have the flesh (our fallen nature) in us as long as we are here in these bodies, and the flesh is ever ready to listen to Satan’s wiles when he brings before us the world’s enticements and self-gratification. It is only by walking in faith, and treating the old nature as dead and crucified with Christ, in constant self-judgment that we can be kept. We also need to have a deep sense of His love and grace in giving Himself for us, to make us feel our dependence upon Him and the necessity of being kept by His power.
We are often reminded that our knowledge of Scripture and even a devoted life of service can never change our old natures. The Apostle Paul, that most eminent servant of the Lord, was given a thorn in the flesh to buffet him, lest he should be exalted. The Lord could not trust the flesh even in an apostle. We get later on in this book, “Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Chapter 16:18.)
ML 09/24/1961