II Timothy 3  "But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come."   Oh my.. Yes.. we are seeing this right before our eyes... 

"For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God; holding a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; and avoid such men as these."  (v2-5) 

This is a very accurate picture of our world today, is it not? Paul says, "Stay away from these people!" (CJB)  They try to persuade and get control of the "weak-willed women who are heaped with sins and swayed by various impulses, who are always learning but never able to come to full knowledge of the truth." 

Those who have rejected the Truth of God's Word, who have refused to repent of their sin, and who keep seeking knowledge from other sources - will never succeed in finding the "full knowledge of the truth."  

False teaching cannot produce godly living... only moral deficiency.  Men or women " will not make further progress; for their folly will be obvious to all.. " Paul says they are just like "Jannes and Jambres". So who are they?  According to the Bible Knowledge Commentary there was a Jewish legend that they were two of Pharoah's magicians who went up against Moses and lost.  Paul is saying that false teachers (and those who believe them)..  are like these magicians.. ".. opposed to the truth, men of depraved mind, rejected as regards the faith."  And  headed for failure.  

So, what do we do in a world filled with men and women such as these?  We must also follow Paul's example - his "teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, persecutions, and sufferings.. "  We must believe that the Lord will deliver us even though "all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. " 

Evil will increase.  We are seeing it happen.  But we are able to continue to live for Jesus, finding wisdom in His Word. To come to the full knowledge of the Truth we need to keep in the Inspired Word of God.  We must be taught and teach it. We must allow it to reprove us - rebuke us; convict us; correct us; and train us in righteousness.  May the grace of God be with us!

Father in heaven, Your ways are holy.  Your ways are wondrous.  You reveal Your strength in Your people. You led Your people Israel through the waters of the Red Sea.  You led them like a Shepherd leads his flock. You will lead us now through the troubled waters of our day.  The raging winds and agitated waves do not worry You.  The trembling earth.. trembles only  at Your Hand.  So like the psalmist we say, "What god is as great as God?" ( Psalm 77)   There is no other. We will "know today and establish in [our] hearts that Adonai is God in heaven about and on earth below - there is no other." ( Deut. 4) Deliver us from evil, gracious Father. Holy Spirit, we yield to Your leading, to the glory of God the Father and of Jesus Christ the Son.  In His name we pray. AMEN