Scripture
Evil people and pretenders will go from bad to worse. They will fool others, and others will fool them.
~2 Timothy 3:13, NIrV
Quote
“Be careful who you pretend to be: you might forget who you are.”
~Image Quotes
Paul begins 2 Timothy chapter three with these words, “You must understand this, that in the last days distressing times will come.” Just over a hundred years ago, the prevalent view among many Baptist was that the world was getting better. This view was called postmillennialism. They believed the world would get better and better and this would be culminated by the coming of Christ and His reign of peace. Then World War One happened and then World War Two. It seems clear to me from Paul’s teaching in 2 Timothy that the world is becoming more degenerate with time. We aren’t getting better, we are getting worse.
We have always had evil people and pretenders but Paul said it will go from bad to worse. These pretenders will invade the church. Paul said, “They will act as if they were serving God. But what they do will show that they have turned their backs on God’s power.” They will act religious, but they will reject the very power that could make them godly. Be honest, how many folks do you know who are real? They are becoming fewer and fewer, right?
I had a ball yesterday which is probably no shock to anyone. Preaching is fun when God gives you a message. Looking back over the last three months, I have no doubt that it was time for me to retire. Matter of fact, I see God’s hand of grace in the whole affair. Joe David is doing a great job and all the changes are good. The burden I carried for 37 plus years is now on his back. He has my full sympathy and support but in all honestly, I don’t want the burden back. I do want you to pray for him because it is not an easy burden to bear. Preaching is the easy part, dealing with hardheaded, unhappy and sometimes angry backslidden Baptist is the difficult part. Ty was in a tournament last weekend and the fans were awful. One of the officals was very good and overall, I thought they did a good job. I told him after Ty’s last game, “I don’t know what they are paying you but whatever it is, it is not enough.” I feel the same way about Joe David, Tim, and Teddy. I don’t know what they are making, but it is not enough. If you want a second on that motion, talk to Big Mama.
One more Alvin Tucker story: all of you know Frankie and Sylaina but did you know that Alvin Tucker lead Sylaina’s mom and dad to faith in Christ. Terry, Sylania’s dad, told me last Friday, “I could set my watch on Bro. Tucker coming to our house. They went visiting on Monday night and all I had to do was allow time for him to pray with all the visitaters and get to my house. He said, they took around 12 minutes so I learned to leave the house at 7:10. Terry decided one Monday night that he and Alaine would eat out in the back yard. This way, he would not have to answer the door. Guess who came walking around the house about 7:15? If you guessed Alvin Tucker, you would be right and eventually he lead both Terry and Elaine to faith in Christ. You might say, we would not have Sylaina had it not been for the faithfulness of Alvin Tucker.
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