2 Timothy 4:2-4 says “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”
In verse 3, the Bible talks of a time that will come. The description has an eerily similarity to the days we live. For example, “they will not endure sound doctrine.” Sound doctrine is rarer to find in churches today. Doctrine becomes watered down to appease the crowds. Biblical truth has an offensive quality to the sinful flesh of man. It’s easier to hear how good we are rather than “all have sinned.”
Verse 4 says, “And they shall turn away their ears from the truth.” I see the same characteristics in the men and women of our day. Our focus as a church is to convey the truth of Jesus Christ to the lost world. However, more and more, they are turning their ears from the truth. Increasingly, the world does not want to hear our message, but are turned to fables and irrational narratives.
In my opinion, the time has come. We are living in the prophecy of 2 Timothy 4. This leads to the question, what do we do if no one wants to hear the truth? The Biblical answer is to preach the Word. This answer makes no sense to human logic. It makes more sense to give up on preaching, soul winning, and ministry if no one wants to hear the truth. To be honest, it doesn’t matter. If God tells us to preach the Word, we need to preach the Word. God has a reason. He is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”(2 Peter 3:9b) Even though it may feel disappointing and almost useless, there are still some people seeking the truth. Definitely not the majority, but some will hear us. Therefore, preach the Word. Never give up. Let us be obedient and pray for the souls that are seeking the truth. We need to be well equipped and ready to continue preaching the Word. (By Matt Shold)
