In Ecclesiastes 3:1, Solomon, whom God called “a man wiser than all men” in I Kings 4:31, proclaimed, “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” In II Timothy 4:3, Paul tells Timothy that a time will come when mankind will not listen to sound doctrine. The commentator Albert Barns says; “This word sound, in Greek means, “healthful doctrine” This means they will not listen and obey a doctrine contributing to the health of the soul, or to salvation. At that time, they would seek a kind of instruction more conformable to their wishes and feelings.” I believe this time is now!
II Timothy 4:3-4 “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”
While there have always been those who will not listen to the truths of the Bible, for the most part, they have individually chosen to ignore it or seek to change the truths of God’s word to appease their conscience. Now, entire denominations change Scripture to fit society’s ideas. Some denominations now ordain homosexuals to preach while they are still living in their sin. God condemns this sin in Romans 1:26-28. Others have become nondenominational to appeal to the masses and avoid accountability.
Romans 1:26-28 “For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.”
In God’s eyes, all sin is an abomination to Him. In Revelation 21:8, Jesus names others who will not enter Heaven. He starts with the fearful. The fearful are those who were cowards and would not take a stand and overcome their sins. They did not speak out in the face of sin because they feared the world’s reproach. The unbelievers are those who were going through the motions but did not truly know God. The abominable are those who live in open sin. They do the things that God detests and has called an abomination to Him. They cannot be part of a pure and holy world where God is. He names some in verse 8. Murderers, whoremongers, sorcerers- these are those who practice some sort of witchcraft. He also includes idolaters. This includes anyone who puts anything above God in their life. Then He turns to a sin we have all been guilty of. He says liars will have their part in Hell. They will experience the second death: eternity in the lake of fire.
Revelations 21:8 “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”
The time will come when He will judge all sin. Some will receive a greater condemnation. Our only hope of escaping this judgment is to place our faith in Jesus. If we repent and live for Him, we will not only live a blessed, fulfilling, and satisfying life, but also inherit eternal life with Him in Heaven.
As we think about when the time will come for those who do not know Him to pay their sin debt, it is also a time for us who live for Him to rejoice. We will celebrate our Savior at the marriage supper of the Lamb!
Revelation 19:9 “And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.”
A time will come when the lives of those who do not know Him will starkly contrast with those who do. Now is the time, if you have not made Jesus your Lord, to ask Him to forgive you and come into your heart, where His Holy Spirit will dwell within you and help you live for Him. If you have not surrendered to Him, there will come a time you will regret it for all eternity.
I am so thankful that there will come a time when He returns to take those who have been washed in the blood of the Lamb back to Heaven with Him. In John chapter 14, Jesus was teaching His disciples that He would be leaving them. They did not understand, but He left them and us with a promise of His return for us to go to Heaven and live with Him.
John 14:3 “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”
