The privileges of the true followers of Christ, in standing fast and being true to His profession, have never been greater or more difficult than they are today. Because of the gross evil in the world and the giving up of light once known or professed in Christendom at large, any light seen in the Christian shines out brightly. Nothing exposes evil or unbelief more than the humble, quiet, devoted walk of a diligent and heavenly minded Christian who is divinely instructed. Men hate to have their evil and unbelief exposed, and so they hate the faithful person who so exposes them. This makes it difficult for the Christian.
Opposition to the truth is more keenly felt by faithful followers of Christ when it comes from those who once professed truth, but have let it slip away. Such have a conscience which was once enlightened and active. Light again pricks a dormant conscience and the result is often bitter anger.
This present evil world (Gal. 1:4) is where we are. Surroundings and circumstances are getting so dark and wicked that we have to be extremely watchful lest we become affected by the very conditions of this present evil world.
Being what we are by nature, it is a constant tendency to the soul to get occupied with that evil and even to sink down under it. We might even think that the evil is greater than good. To do so is to suppose that the evil is greater than God, but He is above and over all. He is greater than all and He is for us, and it is a great thing to count on Him.
The Word of God gives us instruction and exhortation in this present world at the end time when the house of God is called the great house (2 Tim. 2:20). We list a few of them: “Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus." 2 Tim. 2:1.
“Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord." 2 Tim. 1:8.
“Be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel." 2 Tim. 1:8.
“Hold fast the form of sound words." 2 Tim. 1:13. "Endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ." 2 Tim. 2:3.
“Watch thou in all things, endure afflictions." 2 Tim. 4:5.
“Continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them." 2 Tim. 3:14.
Paul says for himself, "The Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto His heavenly kingdom." 2 Tim. 4:18. This, too, is our confidence, so that even when living in such a bad world today, we can trust our God who is greater than all. He soon will send our Lord and Savior to take us out of the presence of evil. Ed.