"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come."
2 Timothy 3:1
I like this verse, not because I am a fan of "perilous times," but because it is good that God works with us to set expectations. Too often we think that life should be perfect, smooth sailing, and we are probably a little bit unreasonably shocked and horrified when things go wrong. However, if we look closely at what God is telling us in the scriptures, life really isn't going to be smooth, and it isn't meant to be.
That isn't to say that there won't be good times, or even that we can't learn to be happy in non-ideal situations. There will be great times, and God helps us learn to be happy and okay by trusting in him even when things around us are bad. But there will also be bad times and hard things. In Lehi's Dream, which is about finding our way in life, Lehi describes a "mist of darkness" that causes many on the gospel path to wander away and become lost.
The mist happened to everyone. The difference between those who made it to the Tree of Life and those who didn't was the rod of iron, which is symbolic of the word of God... basically the scriptures, though I am sure it includes his words in other forms as well.
So basically, God is letting us know... hey, it's going to get rough. But he also tells us how to get through it. Later in this epistle, Paul refers to "the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith" (verse 15). God's words can get us through perilous times and mists of darkness, and whatever else comes at us. Whether it is prayer, scripture study, listening to modern prophets, or a message in a dream, vision, or angelic visitation, God's word has always been and still is the way to salvation and lasting happiness.
Today, let's be ready for the hard times, and make sure we are relying on the word of God.
2 Timothy 3:1
I like this verse, not because I am a fan of "perilous times," but because it is good that God works with us to set expectations. Too often we think that life should be perfect, smooth sailing, and we are probably a little bit unreasonably shocked and horrified when things go wrong. However, if we look closely at what God is telling us in the scriptures, life really isn't going to be smooth, and it isn't meant to be.
That isn't to say that there won't be good times, or even that we can't learn to be happy in non-ideal situations. There will be great times, and God helps us learn to be happy and okay by trusting in him even when things around us are bad. But there will also be bad times and hard things. In Lehi's Dream, which is about finding our way in life, Lehi describes a "mist of darkness" that causes many on the gospel path to wander away and become lost.
The mist happened to everyone. The difference between those who made it to the Tree of Life and those who didn't was the rod of iron, which is symbolic of the word of God... basically the scriptures, though I am sure it includes his words in other forms as well.
So basically, God is letting us know... hey, it's going to get rough. But he also tells us how to get through it. Later in this epistle, Paul refers to "the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith" (verse 15). God's words can get us through perilous times and mists of darkness, and whatever else comes at us. Whether it is prayer, scripture study, listening to modern prophets, or a message in a dream, vision, or angelic visitation, God's word has always been and still is the way to salvation and lasting happiness.
Today, let's be ready for the hard times, and make sure we are relying on the word of God.
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