"'You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!" 2 Timothy 3:1-5 NLT
On December 27 Fox 29 Philadelphia reported that Bennett Brookstein, a well-known runner who started the Fairmont Running Club 18 years ago, was assaulted and stabbed while out running on Christmas Day. Bennett said he could count the number of times he’s run alone in Philly on his two hands. But Saturday morning he showed up for a group run and no one showed up so he took off on his own. A couple of miles in he was brutally attacked on the path near Martin Luther King Drive and Black Rd. He was able to get away from his attacker to some other runners as they waited for police who found and arrested the man responsible. Brookstein will have to take some time off to physically recover. Mentally it will be difficult to run that path again. He hopes people see this and realize the importance of running in groups and that something is done to curb the violence. "If I’m not going to run with a group I’ve got to be in places that are lit up I don’t know what I’m going to carry with me," said Brookstein. "It definitely throws things off when you’re running by yourself." He said although this happened at 8 in the morning he’d like to see the city invest in more lights and patrol on running paths.
And while running in groups and having more lights and patrol on running paths might seem like a simple way to "curb the violence," the Bible is clear that the violence will only increase despite our actions to prevent it. In fact, the warning Paul issued to Timothy about this increase was, "You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times." Paul then went onto describe how disobedient, unloving, unforgiving, lacking in self-control and cruel people would become "in the last days," the days that are now upon us and should cause us to be ever more vigilant, watchful and alert to our surroundings. Notice that I didn’t say fearful though? And I didn’t because now’s not the time for the church (that's you and me) to panic, shrink back or to cower down in the face of what’s happening but to courageously and boldly rise up and persuade the lost to turn from darkness to light before it’s too late.
So as we continue to see the reports of violence escalate in the coming days, weeks and months, let us stand undeterred at the threat of danger or pain by keeping our eyes on the One who goes before us and has promised to never leave us or forsake us. Let us be brave and committed to finishing the task of being witnesses to all the ends of the earth.
Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us the Word that clearly defines what will happen in the last days. Please give us an unquenchable desire to know and study Scripture so that we might be ready for what is to come, but not only ready but eagerly expectant so that we would not fall back in fear but rise up in the confidence that we are not alone and so can win every battle. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.
Happy Running!!!
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