Don't Be a Christian in Name Only (2 Tim. 4:1-5)

I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
(2 Timothy 4:1-5, NASB)

Have I mentioned lately how much I love God’s word? And how much I love Paul’s letters? Sometimes, though, I read passages, and I’m almost overwhelmed with how much God speaks to my heart. This is one of those times.

I want to focus on two areas Paul writes about.

We must be ready to preach God’s word, patiently and lovingly. No, not all of us are gifted as teachers or preachers or evangelists. However, we all have opportunities to share God’s word. And so we need to know it. I’ve emphasized Bible study—real get-into-the-meat-of-it study—a lot lately, and it’s so very critical. How can you share with others something about which you don’t really know yourself? I challenge you: If you’re not already spending quality time in God’s word, start today. Be ready.

People in our world today aren’t willing to “endure sound doctrine.” This is the biggest tragedy I see in Christendom today. In order to justify choices or sometimes blatant sin, they seek teachers who will “tickle” their ears. In other words, who will tell them what they want to hear. They’re not seeking the real truth of the Bible—in fact, they even say the Bible isn’t really the inspired, inerrant word of God.

I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again: If you call yourself a Christian, then be one. Read and study and know God’s word. Know what delights Him—and what breaks His heart. Believe Jesus when He said that He, and He alone, is the “way, truth, and life” and that no one can come to the Father except through Him (John 14:6). Believe that those who choose to follow Him and commit their lives to Him will spend eternity with Him (John 3:16).

And those who don’t will spend eternity separated from Him. Remember, not everyone who says “Lord, Lord” will enter God’s kingdom (Matt. 7:21-23).

Please. If you’re reading this, and you’ve allowed false teachers to tickle your ears, go to the source of truth. Read the book of John. And then read it again. See what the Lord Jesus Himself says about knowing and following Him.

And then commit to doing so. Submit your life completely to your loving Father. Trust me. It will be so very worth it … because being in a true relationship with Creator God is better than anything this world can offer. Anything.