Navigating Perilous Times

Navigating Perilous Times
II Timothy 3:1-14
August 16, 2026

Paul has been writing to his son in the faith, Timothy, from prison, giving him final direction, exhorting him to stand strong and to teach the church the important things he has heard from him.

Now he reminds Timothy why this is crucial, as he again warns him of the difficult times that will come in the last days.

When we read these words in the section that we are studying tonight, it seems as if Paul could have been a time traveler who came to our time and went back to tell Timothy of everything he saw, as it seems like a perfect description of the times that we live in. 

This is what makes this letter that he wrote to  Timothy so relevant to us today. It is also a warning for us to examine our own hearts and lives and to make sure that the spirit actively working in this world has not penetrated our hearts.

We can see through this description the two ways in which the heart can be drawn which Jesus mentioned.

Matthew 7:13-14, Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

The broad way focuses on the self and reveals the ugliness of selfishness, pride, and conceit.

This is contrasted with the narrow road, the road that leads to life: a life of self-sacrifice and laying down the self, but receiving the reward of true life and eternal life by following Jesus.

I. Difficult Times will Come

• When Paul speaks of difficult times, he does not necessarily mean difficult financial times. We often understand difficult times as financial struggles, but Paul says that a deeper difficulty, with much more dire consequences, will come: the destruction of morality and its effects.

• This is the critical problem, and it is why many people miss its dire consequences. From a worldly perspective, people may be doing well financially and may appear to have all their ducks in a row, yet they can still be hurtling toward destruction of the soul, which may end in eternal destruction.

• Many experience the effects even before the grave.

Hosea 8:7, For they sow the wind and they reap the whirlwind. 

Illus – This is an apt description of what we see happening in our world today. Just look at relationships and the destruction of families.  What seems like an innocent affair, or just irreconcilable differences that end a marriage, has disastrous consequences in the second and third generations. The free love, and rock and roll lifestyle with drug use as a norm in the sixties which promised freedom of responsibility and a careless life, eventually cruelly served up devastating results to generations that followed it. 

• It is important to note that the perilous times will be the direct consequence of these things Paul points out in the next verses.

A. Beware the form of outward religion

• Paul gives this very important warning. All the horrible things we see in this section can still be cloaked in religion.

• People can maintain the outward façade of religion while their hearts remain focused on all the wrong things. How is this possible?

• Because religion is ultimately still focused on the self: “How can I make myself better?” It is not focused on a loving relationship driven by love for God and other people from a thankful, humble heart, resting and trusting in the finished work of Jesus. This is the danger of cultural religion.

Illus: In the city we lived in, there was a big arts festival every year. Tens of thousands of people would attend…

• This is a problem with cultural religion, and it is not limited to South Africa.

• You may have seen the same kind of thing at other events: Super Bowl gatherings, rodeos, and many occasions that open with prayer. The prayer is beautiful, but what follows? Some people who have just prayed, then get drunk or engage in immoral behavior.

• This is something we should be very cautious of. Paul says we need to look different. Our lives must be set in a different direction. Do not be lulled into a false sense of security by living within a system of cultural religion.

B. Love the right things

• The core problem is found in the first few words of verse 2: “For men will be lovers of self.” Loving the self becomes the root of all the ungodly character traits.

• If everything is about the self, it leads to all the other descriptors. You will then be a lover of money, never having enough and hoarding simply to enrich yourself, with an intense greed that is never satisfied.

• Boastful—always seeing oneself as better than others; prideful—looking down on others and seeing them as stupid or ignorant.

• This leads to arrogance; thinking you are special compared with others and worthy of more.

• This can breed a culture of entitlement, which is very evident today. There is a deep restless, dangerous ungratefulness that is rearing its head in society.

• As children of God we, have, or should have, a different attitude .We should have a deep, heartfelt thankfulness, knowing that everything we have comes from God, who loved us and saved us while we were still sinners.

James 1:17,  Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. 

• We don’t deserve anything 

App – In the past, when I was blessed with something or able to get something nice, I have had people tell me, ‘You deserve it.’ Although it is a nice sentiment, it is a very dangerous mindset to have. If you think you are deserving of everything you have, it breeds entitlement, which leads to pride, boastfulness, and all the other carnal destructive heart conditions.  We don’t deserve anything. If we were to receive things or be treated because of what we deserve, it would be horrendous. All we have is by the grace of God. 

• Paul goes on to list more evil characteristics. They will be unloving and disobedient to parents. The rebellion of this age has become horrendous.

Illus – We now see this new phenomena of teen takeovers all over the country. It is a symptom of a rebellious, disobedient spirit. And it is fueled by principle that parents no longer have the inclination and/or authority to discipline their children. Yet, parents might now find themselves being held accountable for the actions of their children who partake in the teen take-overs and destroy property. This is quite a catch 22 situation.

• God puts a very high value on obedience to parents. To such a degree that ‘honor your father and mother’ is one of the ten commandments. God put such a high premium on this, that if a child would be rebellious under the mosaic law, he would be stoned at the town gates.

• We must see the current rebellious spirit as a direct demonic rebellion against God’s order.
• Children and teenagers, know that God expects of you to be obedient to your parents and to honor them.

• He goes on to say that people will be unholy, malicious gossips, without self-control, and brutal.

• It is striking how brutal people have become and how desensitized they are to brutality and the things happening around us.

• They will become haters of good, treacherous, reckless, and conceited. (vain, smug, arrogant)

• And then, here is the big one: lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.

• God does want us to experience pleasure. God created beauty in nature. God created food that is tasteful. We are not to walk around with sullen faces, hating every moment of life.

• But if pleasure becomes your highest priority, you begin to chase it, and it becomes your god. Pleasure should not be your defining goal.

II. Find True Pleasure in Him First

• Honoring God’s directives and obeying God should be your defining goal. He created you for a purpose, and if you live in that purpose—living self-sacrificially for His glory—you will find true pleasure as a lover of God.

• God must be the highest priority in your life, and from that you will derive true pleasure.

• The irony is that if you chase pleasure without God, you will find no true pleasure.

Illus – A friend of mine told me his testimony of doing the world thing full out… 

• It is only found in Him.

Psalm 16:11, You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.

• In Christ, we are now seated at the right hand of God. True joy and true pleasure come from the restoration of that relationship with God through Jesus Christ: knowing that I am in right standing with God, that He loves me, and that I love Him.

A. Desire to live a godly life

• When you turn your heart towards God, you start to see the ugliness and destruction of sin. Paul shows the comparison of those who are lovers of self, compared to his life. Their folly would be obvious to all, just as Jannes’s and Jambres’s was who opposed Moses.

• We can see it as we look back over history. Those who loved God, followed His heart, direction, voice and word, left a great legacy.

• Those who didn’t, mostly didn’t. Granted, some might have left great wealth, but not necessarily a great legacy. As said before, we can all see around us that the wages of sin is death, even affecting multiple generations.

• But Paul says to Timothy,

Verse 10,12 – Now you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, persecutions, and sufferings, …Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 

• In short, he is saying, you followed my life closely. You can see the results. Yes, there was persecution, yes there were hard times, but it was a beautiful life.

• When the Holy Spirit awakens you to God, when your eyes that have been blinded by the enemy is opened and you see the Life He gives, and in comparison, the brokenness without Him, you have a choice. Paul urges to desire a godly life.

• The flesh still wages war against your new nature, but there is a heart condition that changes.

• A heart that says, I have seen the evidence. I have looked, like Timothy, at Paul, at the cloud of witnesses from history and the stories and life results of those around me urging me on.

B. Have eternity in sight

• Now in this life, Paul, just like Jesus, almost guarantees that those who desire to live a godly life in Christ will be persecuted.
• But Paul also has this testimony, of which Timothy was a witness, that out of all the persecutions, the Lord rescued him, with a testimony, for His glory.

• In fact, Paul, knowing that he was going to be killed shortly, wrote these words:

2 Timothy 4:6-8, For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing. 

• This speaks of a resolute spirit. A man that sees life and this world from a different perspective. 

• A man who has kept on fighting the good fight. Note that it was a fight. A fight speaks of putting in effort, refocusing, choosing again, standing in hope, trusting in God, in the midst of adversity; keeping the faith. 

• A man knowing that God has rescued him out of every trouble, but this next trouble he will be rescued in a different way. He will at last be set free from this world and be received by the Lord and rewarded. Death, where is your sting. 

• What an incredible sobering statement. In the end, all we have is Jesus, and it is more than enough. 

• Yet, there is a promise of a crown give to those who loves His appearing. They will receive the crown of righteousness.

• I must tell you, I am grateful to be alive, grateful to be blessed with family, friends, a great church, God’s provision. I am grateful for sunsets, strolls on the beach, walking in the redwoods, a great movie night with my family, dinner with friends.

• But in my heart, there is also a longing for heaven. When I see the brokenness and the hurt in this world, my heart cries out, come Lord Jesus come. When I think about family , friends, loved ones who are already in eternity, my heart says come Lord Jesus come.

• Maranatha, Jesus is coming soon. Then there will be no more tears, no more pain, no more death, when we see our Savior face to face.

• My desire is to live a godly life directed at eternity.

• There will be a day….