In 2 Timothy 3, we are forewarned that in the end times, just before the Lord’s return, the world is going to get very dark. Through the Holy Spirit, Paul describes all the terrible things in society that will occur in the last days, and they are enough to intimidate any person: 

“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.”

—2 Timothy 3:12-13

You can imagine that when Timothy was first reading this, it might have been a little overwhelming to him, but the purpose of this letter was not to overwhelm or terrify but to advise and prepare. Clearly, we need to carefully consider how we should be preparing for the last days, how we are going to survive these times, and what we can do to ensure we build families that are strong and safe, and fortunately, the Bible tells us precisely the answer in the very next verse:

“But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;”

—2 Timothy 3:14

Paul says to Timothy, and to all of us, “Continue in the things which thou hast learned.” With this word, “continue,” He indicates a sense of constancy, even in the changing times. He is basically saying, “Stay with the truth that you know. Even if the thinking of the world changes, don’t allow it to change you. Continue to stand firmly upon what you know to be the Truth.”

This is a message we must take to heart, friends. Just because the world around us changes does not mean that we have to change with it. The world will always be altering its philosophies and morals, but as children of God, we have godly principles that will remain constant for the rest of eternity. Friend, the Truth never changes, so even as we see this shift in the world taking place and perhaps feel like everything is falling apart and passing away, if you and I will remain in the things that we know are right and true, then we will be found standing at the end of it all!

However, our responsibilities do not stop with ourselves and our own knowledge and faithfulness. From this letter, we also get to see the important responsibility of families. We know that Timothy was raised and trained to know the Word of God from a very young age, and if you read the beginning of Paul’s letter, you will learn where Timothy received His faith and knowledge from: 

“When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.”

—2 Timothy 1:5

Timothy undoubtedly learned much from the apostle Paul, but his spiritual learning was grounded in his being raised by a family of devout and faithful believers. Even though the Christian faith was new at that time, Timothy’s grandmother and mother were believers, and the Bible tells us their faith was passed from Lois to Eunice before it was finally passed on to Timothy. The same faith that they possessed now was living inside him, and it was a real and authentic faith that laid the foundation for the work Timothy would do with Paul on the missions field. 

Like Timothy, I come from a family of faith — It is in my blood. My grandmother was a pioneer, one of the first Pentecostals in the United States, and she lived an incredible life. She had a healing and a miracle ministry, she preached the Gospel in Native American territory, and she even witnessed the supernatural intervention of angels that fed her own family. My grandmother was a woman of powerful faith. When somebody got sick, she laid her hands on them and said, “We are going to believe God.” In fact, she wouldn’t even let her family go to the doctor. She said, “We are Pentecostals, and Jesus is our Healer.”

That woman had faith, and she passed it down to her children, down to my mother, who passed it on to me, so I grew up in a church where the Bible formed our very character. That wonderful faith now lives in me, and as a father, I have passed it down to my sons, who have given it to their children too, and that is such a privilege! Friend, if you are the first generation of faith in your family, I want you to see what an opportunity God has given you to create further generations of faith — generations of those whose lives will be built upon the Word of God after you, generations who know who they are and who know their God. What a blessing you’ve been given!

This is so important, and it is why Pail wanted Timothy to understand that it doesn’t matter how drastically the world changes; Timothy was to continue in the things that he knew — those things which were given to him by his grandmother, by his mother, and by his spiritual father, Paul. Paul goes on to define these things in verse 15:

“And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” —2 Timothy 3:15

The word “salvation” in this verse can be translated as deliverance or preservation, so this verse tells us that when the Word of God — the Holy Scriptures — abides in your heart and is the standard by which you live, it has the power to save, deliver, preserve, and carry you through the worst of times. The world will only get darker, but as you hold on to the Word of God and live by it, it will absolutely deliver you even in the darkest of times. It will save you from any kind of trouble or difficulty you face. 

Further, Paul tells us that the Bible “…is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

When the Bible says that it is “given by inspiration of God,” it is saying that the Bible is not just a book about God, but it contains His very presence. He is in this Book. God took the words of men — just normal words — and He breathed into them, and when God was finished breathing, all those human words came together to form this book. Therefore, this book contains the very breath of God, and that’s why it’s called the Holy Bible.

More than that, the word “inspiration” in this verse is also the ancient Greek word that was used for perfume, which gives us the picture of something that brings the aroma of God. Are you tired of your life stinking? Then bring the Word of God into it, because this amazing Book can change your sinful aroma into something beautiful and powerful! Paul describes this transformation in verse 17, listing all the ways that the Word can change us: “…for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”

Clearly, friend, the Bible is the only answer for this generation and these times. It is even the answer for your own life right now. As Ecclesiastes 8:4 says, “Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou?”

The Bible is the Word of our King. When He breathed His powerful breath into human vocabulary, men began to write, and they produced this incredible Book unlike any other. No other book in the world has the presence of God in it, and if you will take the time to study it, live by it, and continue in it, it will be profitable for you. It will bring reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness. When you release your faith in the Bible, the power of God will begin to flow into your life and equip you with everything you need.

Friend, I truly pray that you will stand strong in this powerful Word. When you do, you will be able to withstand everything that is coming in the days ahead and prepare others to do the same. God has been merciful enough to give us His word and equip and empower us to pass through every season of life. Through Him, victory is ours, so we need to repent of the times we’ve ignored His Word and make a fresh commitment to make it a priority in our lives. When we read it, believe it, and live by it, just as we have been taught, we prepare ourselves to stand, unchanging, in a world that is falling apart.