2 Tim. 3

God’s Word is optimistic about our Heavenly future. It is, however, pessimistic about the world around us. I’ve personally seen the culture take a big slide in values from when I was a boy. Politicians, media, addictive life-destroying drugs, common morality standards … everywhere you turn, it’s not hopeful.

Paul predicted our day. He said the times will be grievous, perilous, dangerous, hard … not a pretty picture. And yet, we are raising children and doing our best to please Him with our hearts and lives. IT CAN BE DONE!!! How? God’s grace.

The more we have God’s grace operating in our lives, the more pleasing and effective our lives will be. Grace is, “God working in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure.” [Phil. 2:13] It’s Christ IN US, not the power of our will and personality.

Heritage helps. We just laid to rest my 97 year old father, David Dean Demos. The Christian life he lived provides a template for life that pleases God. His faith, by God’s grace, will continue forging in me and his descendants a testimony and witness that rises above the “Terrible Times” we live in.