“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come” (2 Timothy 3:1).
Webster’s dictionary uses words like these to describe perilous: harmful, risky, dangerous. But I like the margin rendering in my Bible for perilous: times of stress. If ever the planet earth and the people on it have experienced ‘times of stress’ it’s right now! Talking of the last days, Jesus said in Luke 21:25 & 26 that there would be “distress of nations” and “men’s hearts failing them from fear.” Yet in John’s gospel He said: “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (16:33). The Amplified Bible finishes that verse like this: “I have deprived it of power to harm, have conquered it [for you]” Glory to God! That’s good news!
Notice the qualifier is “in Me you will have peace, (for) I have overcome the world.” First and foremost you have to be IN CHRIST, which is another way of saying you have to be born again. These truths aren’t automatic though. Scripture teaches: “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You” (Isaiah 26:3). Your mind has got to be fixed on God. Paul put it this way: “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians 3:2). How does one do that? Stay in the Word of God! Read it, listen to teachings from it, put post-it-notes throughout your house reminding you of it.
Jehovah said it like this to the Israelites: “(My Words) you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes…write them on your doorposts… and on your gates” (Deuteronomy 6:8 & 9). Earlier in this discourse the Lord said to talk about His Word when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down and to teach them diligently to your children. That’s all day and all night! He knew the importance of constantly keeping your mind on Him, His provision and what He’ll do for you and what He expects from you.
He told Joshua to meditate His Word day and night, “For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success” (Joshua 1:8b). Notice He said YOU will make YOUR way prosperous and then YOU will have good success. Allow me to do a Mike Leach paraphrase: “When you view your life through the eye glasses of the Word of God, you will see just how God would do a thing and be successful at it!” That sounds just like seeking first the kingdom of God, His way of being and doing right. That sounds like trusting in the Lord, leaning NOT to your own understanding, but in all of your ways acknowledging Him and He directing your paths! (see Matthew 6:33 and Proverbs 3:5-6)
I named this encouraging word “Last Chapter” because the devil would like you to think that the darkness surrounding you now is it for you, this is your LAST CHAPTER. There’s no hope for you, you’ll never come out of what you’re going through.
Since God never changes and Jesus (the Word made flesh) is the same yesterday, today and forever and He’s no respecter of persons (which is a fancy way to say if He’s done something for someone else, He’ll do it for you) then let’s ask Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego if they felt any heat from the fire before their deliverance came from the Lord (you know they did). Or, how about the children of Israel under Isaiah’s ministry when he prophesied: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned” (43:2). How about Paul writing to the church at Rome that would go through tremendous persecution and trial: “If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? … Who is he who condemns? … Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? … Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors THROUGH HIM who loved us” (Romans 8:31b-35a & 37).
Through Him, by Him, with Him are all ways of acknowledging God’s involvement in our lives. God making up for where we lack. Paul said he could do all things through Christ that strengthens him. John wrote that our faith (in God) was the victory that overcomes the world. Peter wrote that if we would cast our cares on God, He would exalt us in due time. “While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18).
So if the devil is trying to get you to look at circumstances and convince you that this is your LAST CHAPTER, maybe you should talk back to him and remind him that you have already overcome him by the blood of the Lamb of God and the word of your testimony. Remind him that he’s in his LAST CHAPTER and soon the Books will be opened!