Stand Firm in the Last Days

Read 2 Timothy 3:10­_­­-17.

Paul told Timothy to stand firm in the Truth of the Gospel, to stand firm in finding and following God’s purpose for his life, to stand firm in patience and love. Only when we hold fast to the Word of God, will we be able to obey this call. The Bible does not bend to the whims of celebrities or popular culture; God does not change like shifting sands. So if we want to follow His will and righteous way as the days grow darker, we must turn to Scripture for guidance. We need to read it, obey it, know it, and live it because it is the Truth—not just some of it, not the parts that we like, but every sentence and every word.

The Bible is unlike any other book. It was breathed out by the Holy Spirit of God. There were, of course, human authors who penned the words, but it was God who prepared them to communicate according to His will. Each book of the Bible grew out of a special set of circumstances, and yet, God sovereignly orchestrated those circumstances to bring His timeless message to the world through the extraordinary working of His Spirit in ordinary people.

If you think about it, the Bible is really an indescribably good gift to this world. Without it, how would we know God? How would we know how much He loves us? How would we know the way of salvation? The Bible is salvation’s handbook, and it tells us that salvation is only possible through Jesus Christ.

When worldly people hear that, they decry it as intolerant. But God’s offer of salvation through His Son is for everyone. Anyone who will confess that Jesus is Lord and believe in their heart that God raised Him from the dead will be admitted to the Kingdom of God (see Romans 10:9), which will include people from every nation, tribe, and tongue (see Revelation 7:9). The world says all religions lead to God, but there is no faith like Christianity—for, in no other religion did God so love the world that He gave His one and only Son to die for us on a cross (see John 3:16). That’s the message of the Bible, a sure foundation that will never fail us if we will stand firm on it.

Prayer: Lord, I praise You for the gift of Scripture that allows me to know You and the hope of Your Gospel. Your grace and love are awesome. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.