“As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”  Matthew 24:3

II Timothy 3:1 – 5 – “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.  People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.” 

We are living in the last days and we should not be surprised at the moral degeneration of society around us.  The man’s state of depravity encompassing us is what we as Christians are to minister.   When people misdirect their love toward themselves and material pleasures there can be no love left to direct toward others.  Then moral corruption normally results. Here are other reasons for moral corruption: Boastful, proud – An inflated self-importance.   Abusive – People who speak disrespectfully to others. Disobedient to their parents – Behavior that breaks the fifth Commandment. Ungrateful – Cannot appreciate others or give gratitude for favors. Unholy – Disregard God in order to live only to please themselves. Without love – People who love only themselves.  Unforgiving – Cannot allow for other people’s mistakes or weaknesses.  Slanderous – Enjoy spreading gossip and malicious reports about others.  Without self-control – Cannot restrain the feelings or actions.  Brutal – Live like untamed animals.  Not lovers of good – People who hate anything good.  Treacherous – Ready and willing to betray anyone.  Rash – People who act foolishly and carelessly and normally head-strong.  Conceited – A person who is narcissistic and a very high opinion of themselves.  Lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God – People who are so misdirected that they can think only of themselves.  Having a form of godliness but denying its power – People who practice a form of godliness and used godliness as a cloak of respectability while denying God’s power over their lives.  Make a list of those areas that need work!

There were a number of people in the church at Ephesus who appeared to be Christians in name only. You will probably find these people in every church today.   Paul warned Timothy not to be deceived by people who only appear to be Christians.  He was told to watch them closely for their daily behavior will give them away.  Timothy was told not to become involved with them.  That does not mean we should not try to help them seek repentance.  However, it appears more Christians live to please themselves than to please God. 

We are raising children to be desensitized to violence.  They are playing violent video games, watching on the Internet pornography, following negative role models, their idols and developing the moral degeneration that the above Scripture points out will happen. 

I Thessalonians 4:1 – “Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you in the name of the Lord Jesus to live in a way that pleases God, as we have taught you. You live this way already, and we encourage you to do so even more.”

God wants each Christian to turn over our lives to Him.  We are to offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God.  We are told to be sanctified and holy.  Becoming holy is a process called “sanctification”.  It is living to prepare us for heaven.  God takes our carnal nature and our old habits and behaviors and transforms them to His standards and Will.  It is allowing the Holy Spirit to work in our lives.  Christianity is not a list of do’s and don’ts but it is a relationship with God and our willingness to live to please Him.  As we see the signs indicating that we are within just a few years of Christ’s return we must make every effort living to please God. 

Revelation 13:7 & 8 – “And the beast was allowed to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them. And he was given authority to rule over every tribe and people and language and nation. And all the people who belong to this world worshiped the beast. They are the ones whose names were not written in the Book of Life before the world was made—the Book that belongs to the Lamb who was slaughtered.”

It appears the Antichrist’s goal is to eliminate every Christian from the world.  I have often believed those whose names are in the Book of Life will be given a power that will enable them such courage and a lack of fear that will allow them to face the Antichrist to do whatever, without losing faith.

The Bible does not say we are headed for a one-world government but it sure is indicated.  Daniel 7:23 – 26 – “Then he said to me, “This fourth beast is the fourth world power that will rule the earth. It will be different from all the others. It will devour the whole world, trampling and crushing everything in its path. Its ten horns are ten kings who will rule that empire. Then another king will arise, different from the other ten, who will subdue three of them.  He will defy the Most High and oppress the holy people of the Most High. He will try to change their sacred festivals and laws, and they will be placed under his control for a time, times, and half a time.  ‘But then the court will pass judgment, and all his power will be taken away and completely destroyed.’”  (3½ Years)

Are you living as if you have a great deal of time before you must make that decision to live a life that is pleasing to God?  Are you finding it hard to give up self-control and living as the world, rather than to surrender and dieing out to self and our selfish desires and lusts?