But know this:  Difficult times will come in the last days.  For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, without love for what is good, traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to the form of godliness but denying its power.  Avoid these people!  2 Timothy 3:1-5 HCSB

We have spoken often about how the devil uses people in our lives to upset us, steal our joy and destroy our witness. As you read our scripture passage today, did anyone come to mind?  Did this passage describe someone you know? Unfortunately we all know those who fit the mold. And if there is a person with one of these traits they usually have all of them but may not show them all at the same time. Now before we go pointing fingers at everyone else, let’s do a little self examination.  Do you love God and others more than you love yourself? Are you loving money a bit too much? Have you let pride take hold in your life? Are you speaking sacrilegiously about God or sacred things, or using profanity? Go through the list and take a good look at yourself.

Now, if you recognize any of these qualities in yourself then right now is a good time to pray to God, confess this behavior, ask for his forgiveness and for his help in changing your ways. Sadly, many people who behave this way never recognize it in themselves but are quick to point it out in others.

Now if you don’t feel like any of this applies to you, good! But know that there are instructions in this passage for you as well. We must use wisdom and discernment to identify our true enemy.  We must realize that Satan is at work in the lives of people who exhibit this behavior. When you see someone who behaves in this way, you need to avoid them. Now one thing that has happened to me since I committed my life to the Lord is that I find that he gives me discernment and actually makes me want to avoid people who behave in this way.

We know that Jesus spent times with sinners. He was judged for being in the company of sinners. But He’s Jesus, He had the power to save these people from their sinful ways.  He had the power to cast out demons that had gotten hold of these people.  He still does.

Some of you read this passage and said, “Wow, that sounds just like so and so.”  If you did, then perhaps you have tried to talk with them about giving their life over to Jesus. Maybe it didn’t go so well. Well, that’s okay, you have planted a seed. Now pray that someone comes along to water it and make it grow.

I am very sad to say that I have seen people get into church and start to change their lives and then something happens that brings them right back to their old ways. I have also seen people that sat in church every Sunday, but exhibited these character traits when they were out in the world. These people become selfish, their selfishness tends to lead to all the other qualities listed in our scripture passage. I tell you often that we weren’t saved to sit around and be church décor. We were saved to lead others to Christ. I am telling you that if you are going to attempt to lead this person to Christ, be prayed up before you do this.  Pray that God will give you the words to say. Pray that He will open their hearts to receive what you say to them. But, if they reject what you have to say, move on. Don’t ever give any credibility to the old saying, “If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em”.  The bible says if you can’t win them over, move on. You never want to join this crowd. As a matter of fact re-read our scripture passage. Note the last three words, “Avoid these people!”.

If you know someone that our scripture passage describes stay away. I always say, “You can pray for them from a distance.” But I have learned through personal experience that if you get too close they will pull you into the drama that is their life and drag you down with them. If you want to help them, then set an example of godly living.

None of us want to see our friends or loved ones in a situation that may cause them to spend eternity in hell, but they have to make a personal choice to either accept or reject Christ as their Lord and Savior.  We can’t make that choice for them. We can, however, make a choice to avoid the snare or the net that they attempt to draw us into.

If you find yourself exhibiting any or all of the traits listed above, turn to God, trust in Him. If you know of someone who behaves this way, encourage them to turn to God, but if they refuse avoid them and pray that someone else will enter their life and lead them to the Lord.

Have a great day!