2 Timothy 3:1-5 –   “ But understand this, that in the last days difficult times will come. ² For people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, ³ unloving, irreconcilable, slanderers, without self-control, savage, opposed to what is good, ⁴ treacherous, reckless, conceited, loving pleasure rather than loving God. ⁵ They will maintain the outward appearance of religion but will have repudiated its power. So, avoid people like these.”

As I read, prayed, and pondered the Word of God today, I was impressed with the lateness of the hour on God’s timetable.   I sense the urgency of the hour and see the diligent attempt of the devil to distract and sidetrack God’s laborers.   I sense the longing of God for the harvest and the culmination of our salvation.   Time is short, and the church and world are largely distracted.  We are more moved by the events in the world than the stirring in the heavens.

Paul warned Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:1-5 of the conditions of the Last Days. One of the signs would be inordinate self-love, selfishness, greed, overpowering hate, and faux religion.   There would be churches going through the motions, thinking they were godly and pleasing God, but empty and impotent spiritually.  The lost would not be touched, and the believers would not grow spiritually.

In 2 Timothy 4:3-4, he prophesied that in the Last Days, there would be a rejection of the Gospel in favor of a more humanistic and flesh-serving Gospel.

 The Bible makes it clear that God requires those who would enter into His kingdom to be holy and live in righteousness.   But the Last Days people will find that too confining and demanding, requiring discipline, and creating a faux Gospel that appeals to the flesh and gives false security.

There is an increasing acceptability today for man-made doctrines that eliminate hell and make every lifestyle acceptable.   They insist that since God is love, love would not punish but would accept everyone, no matter what.   God is love.    That is an undeniable fact!   He is also just, and nothing unholy can abide in His presence.

From this time forward, there will be an increase in flesh focus in the church, and thousands, if not millions, will participate in attacking those who teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ that requires dying to self. It may appear that the faux Gospel is succeeding, but when the shaking begins and the chaos is unleashed, many of those formerly deceived will turn to the truth.

We must prepare for the harvest.   Every follower of Jesus who rejects the flesh Gospel will be a harvester and be required to teach others the way of life.  Every follower of the truth will be called upon to become a spiritual father or mother to those seeking the truth.   The church services will be transformed from the norm of today into a time of testimony, reporting, and strategy.

Pastors will be transformed into a more apostolic role, and the believers will again take the Gospel to the marketplace.   They will pray, study, and witness with their words and lives.   Some will become martyrs for their faith. Harvest time requires laborers, and the fruit of the harvest will have to be processed (taught and equipped).

The time is short, and the urgency is permeating the atmosphere.   The call of the Spirit of God is to prepare our hearts for service!  There can be no more casual part-time Christianity.  The time has come to get out of the boat and walk in the water.  We will give what we have; the question is, what do we have to give?  Prepare for harvest!

Fasten your seat belts; the ride is about to get exciting!   Lord help us to be ready and be involved in the Last Day’s Harvest!