The Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy:
I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 2Tim 4:1-4
Through the course of the years I’ve wandered down many rabbit holes searching for the truth. I visited with priests, ministers and teachers of various backgrounds. Those early experiences weren’t helpful. But the real reason the truth eluded me was because I was avoiding it; and so were the people I sought out for counseling.
The truth was always there at my reach in God’s written word. I instinctively knew it. The real reason I avoided Scripture was because I knew that in acknowledging God’s Word, I would be faced with its consequences. God’s word demands a decision from its reader. In reality, one cannot read the Bible and remain neutral. Failing to act upon it is a decision to reject it. One either accepts God’s word or rejects it. Further, accepting God’s offer of salvation demands a change in one’s life. I wasn’t ready for that change, and I still wouldn’t be, had God’s great mercy not intervened.
For that I am eternally grateful.
Whenever I think of my early experiences I am reminded of Paul’s exhortation to Timothy. Sadly, we are living in a world where Paul’s prophetic warning is being realized more and more. Fewer people are preaching the word, and fewer want to hear it.
The following video is one of my favorites: Matt Waymeyer “The Pastor’s Mandate” II Timothy 4:1-4
Matt Waymeyer is a faculty member of The Master’s Seminary
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