Yesterday I shared 2 Timothy 3. This morning reading in Chapter 4: In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the word, be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage – with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

This book was written to Timothy by Paul in A.D. 66 or 67. A few decades after Jesus was crucified and not long before his own death by Nero. I can’t help but see parallels to our times today in the warnings Paul gave to Timothy. I think we can agree we live in the Information Age. Information is everywhere and can be tailored to our political or religious viewpoints. So, who do we believe?

Right after I finished reading in the Bible, I read in Hearing God by Dallas Willard this Scripture quote: Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. Acts 17:11.

Is Scripture God’s Word and can we believe it’s true? That’s the question we all have to ask ourselves privately. Paul continued in 2 Timothy 4:6-8: For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day – and not only to me, but to all who have longed for his appearing.

That’s why I love reading Scripture and sharing what I am learning within it’s pages. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16.

How can we know whom to believe in this day and age? I believe God who inspired his Scripture and foretold faithfully and accurately things that wouldn’t happen for over 2,000 years. I believe in the God who loves us too much to lie or tailor a message we think we want to hear rather than His eternal truth that stands for all time. The time will come….

1450-1410 B.C. the Book of Numbers was written. A beautiful passage that brings peace in troubled and confusing times and written for all of us is: The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.

That’s whom I believe and turn to when I need comfort and reassurance. His truth and love is eternal. I can see Paul turning his face to that love as he knew his time was drawing to a close. Our hearts long for what is true and we won’t find it in “what we want to hear”. We find it in God who keeps us in His peace and love if we listen to Him.