Perilous Times

October 1st, 2026
by Bryan Bice

Since the dawn of the New Testament era, we’ve lived in perilous times—the “last days,” as Paul calls them in 2 Timothy 3:1-5, which span from Christ’s first coming to His return.

These are days marked by:

excessive self-centeredness (“lovers of themselves…boasters, proud…haughty”)
defiance toward and railing against God (“blasphemers” – in this regard I heard of a news commentator who declared that God was going to have to answer for the two devastating hurricanes that struck the Gulf coast a few years ago. What hubris!)
disregard for parental authority (“disobedient to parents” – been to the store lately for a grand display of child-centered parenting?) in addition to a lack of natural human affection, toward one’s family, for example (“unloving” – have you heard about the trend of young adults cutting off their parents?)
ingratitude (“unthankful”)
rampant secularism (“unholy”)
irreconcilability (“unforgiving” – tenaciously hold onto a grudge, having no use for someone whose opinion threatens them.)
slander (“slanderers” – the word is diabolos, one of the names of Satan, the slanderer)
lack of self-control (“without self-control”)
violence (“fierce”)
antipathy toward people who declare and live by biblical standards of righteousness (“despisers of those that are good”)
disloyalty (“traitors”)
recklessness (“headstrong” – that is, marked by reckless, thoughtless, impetuous behavior)
hedonism (“lovers of pleasures”).

The interesting thing about this list is that some of those who profess to be Christians are characterized more by the spirit of the age than by genuine godliness (“having a form of godliness, but denying its power”).

So how are we to respond?

First, I’d suggest we seriously examine ourselves in light of these end-times characteristics. Where and to what extent has the character of the age infected us?

Second, we should consider the reality of our godliness. Are we guilty of a mere show for a crowd of peers, or do we genuinely walk with the Lord?

Finally, we need to be much in the Scriptures, continuing in the truth (v. 14), recognizing the value of God’s Word, and allowing it to do its work in our hearts and lives (vv. 16-17).