Living on the backside of the scientific revolution has its perks. Disposable diapers, fluoride, the microwave, just to name a few. I mean can you imagine centuries of bad teeth, cold food, and having to wash out all those cloth diapers? Well, I think I know some folks who still choose the cloth diapers, but that’s a blog for another time.

But living on this side of the age of enlightenment also comes with the notion that the more we discover and define, the more we will disprove an eternally existent, all powerful, and all knowing Creator God. The more science can explain life, the less we need God, so goes the logic.  And when it comes to a man, dying on a cross, to atone for the sins of the world, well, frankly, to the “enlightened” person that is just folly.

It seems even in first century, before pampers, the death and resurrection of Jesus sounded simplistic and foolish. The Apostle Paul weighs in on this when he writes to a church that was being wooed by men of “wisdom.” He writes:

For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. (1 Corinthians 1: 18-25)

Paul is not saying that we shouldn’t learn and grow and explore and get a better handle on the world God made. He is saying that we are way too proud about our wisdom, since it is not through our wisdom that leads us to the meaning of life, and even further to salvation. It is only in the light of God’s revelation, as simple or miraculous as it may be, that we are able to walk in light. God revealed light and life in a person: Jesus. And how we respond to Him, will determine if we are truly “enlightened” or not.

When you DO justice and righteousness and you find yourself running into hard times – when you exercise your faith, bringing Jesus into the public square and are penalized for it – take heart (hang in there) – enduring the junk thrown at you in a fallen world is one way that your Heavenly Father shapes your character for the better.

Check out Hebrews chapter 12 - here is a piece: Consider him who suffered from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted…It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons…For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”

This coming Sunday I’ll be teaching from 2 Timothy 3:1-9. The passage begins this way: “But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.” I’ll be spending our time together unpacking what follows, and won’t be able to address in much depth “the last days.” So here a few thoughts on these last days.

First, we are in the last days. Paul is not unearthing much detail here other than we are living in between the time Jesus ascended into heaven and the time when he will return, in person, in glory, and in judgment. Yes, Jesus is coming back. Luke reports this account in the book of Acts: “And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” (Acts 1: 10-11) Now if two dudes, instantly appear at a time such as this, I’m going with the notion that they know what they are talking about. Also, Jesus himself alluded to the future time when he would return in power as he answers the High Priest Caiaphas about his identity as the Christ, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” (Matthew 26: 64)

Ok, so what’s the hold up? Its been two thousand years and counting – holler at me Jesus. This has been the expectation and cry for many followers of Christ, especially those who have endured much for their faith. To answer this question I find Peter’s words to a persecuted first century church quite helpful and instructive: “But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” (2 Peter 3: 8-9) What Peter is saying in this encouragement to hang on is that God operates on His perfect time table, and God’s heart of patience is one major culprit behind the delay to Jesus’ return. God is mercifully and graciously allowing men and women to respond to His love and turn back to Him. Do you have family or friends that are far from humbly receiving the love of God in Jesus? Then be glad that God is still giving them this window of life to be drawn to Him.

One more thought. There are far better ways to spend these last days than to go all Harold Camping on us. What I mean is don’t become preoccupied with trying to figure out when Jesus will return. When the resurrected, pre-ascended, Jesus was asked straight up by his disciples if now was the time he was going to establish his everlasting kingdom he said: “It is not for you to know time or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1: 7-8) There it is. Don’t get preoccupied with when, just know Jesus will return and we have the great privilege of sharing His story with the world in grace and truth.

We should be living in light of Jesus’ return, seeking holiness in these last days and not adding to the terrible times that will mark them. Because it is people, Paul will go on to say that will make these last days difficult. And not just any people – church people – more on that this Sunday…

This Sunday I mentioned some practical tips for Dads and Husbands for investing in the lives of their families. As men, we are tasked with taking responsibility for the well-being of our families. We see this in Jesus, the perfect man, who took responsibility for our sin even though it was, well, our sin. Real men step up, real men lead, real men take responsibility. We live in a time where most men are really just boys, pretending to be men. My prayer for our church family is that our men become like Jesus, strong and loving, tough and tender, and fulfilling our God-given roles as the heads of our homes. In no way do I think this undermines the importance and value that women bring to the church and home. Instead I feel that as men lead appropriately, women flourish and become all that God has intended for them, and together, spouses help one another to become more like Jesus.

Here is the excerpt that I mentioned from the Mark Driscoll’s book Real Marriage – and as he uses the term “Christian,” we should take that to mean a genuine follower or disciple of Christ – unfortunately in our day the term “Christian” communicates other ideas than that… Ok, here ya go…

1. As the family leader, model humility, honesty, repentance, service, study, and worship. Your life preaches at least as loudly as your words, so teach and model humble godliness by the grace of God.

2. Make sure everyone in your family has a good, age-appropriate Bible that they regularly read. Read the Bible yourself and with them so they are encouraged to read on their own.

3. Make sure you have some basic Bible study tools available for your family in either print or digital form and that everyone learns to use them. If you do not know where to begin, ask your pastor or a godly student of Scripture in your church about things like a good Bible commentary, concordance, dictionary, and atlas.

4. Buy good Christian books for everyone in your family to read. Include Christian biographies among those books.

5. Choose good books that you and your wife can be reading together, including books of the Bible, and discuss what you are learning.

6. If their are Bible-based classes offered in your church, attend with your family.

7. Redeem your commute by listening to good sermons and classes, many of which you can download for free.

8. Have dinner with your family most nights, and use that time to pray together, keep a journal log of prayer requests for other people, and read a portion of the Bible and talk about it together.

9. Pray for each member of your family every day and let them know you are praying for them.

10. Place a hand on the head of each of your children every day and pray over them. Then kiss them on the head and make sure they often get a loving hug.

11. While either snuggling or holding hands, pray with and for your wife every day and remember to include the reasons you are thankful to God for her that day.

The above list is an excerpt from Real Marriage by Mark & Grace Driscoll.