A man can do worse than be by himself.  He can read.  He can think.  He can sit on the porch and listen to the sounds of life out yonder.”
              –Elmer Kelton  (The Man Who Rode Midnight)

    “Finally bothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable–if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise–dwell on these things.”
              –Philippians 4:8 (HCSB)
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A year ago we started to plan to move from our home of twenty-two years in San Antonio to stay with our daughter in Cleveland, TX.  That meant we had to begin to downsize.  There was a garage sale, some things were given away, and there were some things meant for the dumpster.  We were beginning to build a house in Coldspring (ha, little did we know it would take a year).  We were moving from 1900 square feet to 1400 square feet and no garage.  That meant downsizing.
    Now we are in the process of unpacking boxes and trying to find places to put my treasures, even though there are those who call it “stuff.”  Before our move, Annie would periodically say, “clean out your closet and dresser drawers.”  In other words, “get rid of some stuff.”
    Earlier in the week I read a devotion concerning this idea.  From time to time we need to get in the closet and get rid of things.  Women I think more than men, and if that’s sexist, so be it, but some things just aren’t in season or style anymore.  And I hate to say it, but some things just don’t fit anymore and usually it isn’t because of losing weight.  Some things are no longer desired, our attitudes have changed and we don’t care for that outfit anymore.
    Paul writes to the Christians in Ephesians, “That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man…”. (4:22, KJV)  The words “put off” means to lay something down and push it far away beyond reach.  This is something that is deliberately done (Rick Renner).  As we take the time to declutter our closet or homes sometimes, “We must take the time and clean the ‘closet of our heart’ to get rid of hearts and attitudes that no longer fit who we are.” (Renner)
    Grace is given to us, but we must also remember that we are told to grow in grace.  As we grow in grace there are some things that just don’t fit anymore.  The old attitudes are out of date; they are no longer desired.  From time to time look at your life; take inventory and if need be–declutter.

This was a lesson my father had taught me, that we only borrowed from the land, and borrowed with discretion and a thought for the years to come.  He taught us that to live in the wilderness one must live with it.  Live from it, but allow it to live also.”
              –Louis L’Amour  (Bendigo Shafter)

    “The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it.”
              –Genesis 2:15  (NLT)
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“Perilous times!”  Look again at 2 Timothy 1:3 (AMPC) “But understand this, that in the last days will come (set in) perilous times of great stress and trouble [hard to deal with and hard to bear].
2 For people will be lovers of self and [utterly] self-centered, lovers of money and aroused by an inordinate [greedy] desire for wealth, proud and arrogant and contemptuous boasters. They will be abusive (blasphemous, scoffing), disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy and profane.
3 [They will be] without natural [human] affection (callous and inhuman), relentless (admitting of no truce or appeasement); [they will be] slanderers (false accusers, troublemakers), intemperate and loose in morals and conduct, uncontrolled and fierce, haters of good.”

    In these last days men will be morally confused.  Look around you at the confusion and the chaos.  Society, those pseudo-intellectuals that try to direct our minds and actions, cannot find a solution.  Listen to what they say to do–it is hogwash.  Some of it is  downright stupidity.  People are so double-minded, that they don’t know what to do so they do anything or nothing.
    Let’s add verse four to Paul’s description of what it will be like during the end times.

      “[They will be] treacherous [betrayers], rash, [and] inflated with self-conceit. [They will be] lovers of sensual pleasures and vain amusements more than and rather than lovers of God.”

The people of the day will be given to violence.  They might talk something else, but in their hearts they devise violence and they will be know for their violent, reckless behavior.  They will be emotionally intemperate and will exhibit a lack of self-control.  Don’t you dare doubt it.  From movies, to music, to video games this is the most violent generation in history and they take what they hear and see and put it into action.  If you wonder why there are kids perpetrating violent acts it is because violence is being poured into the minds of teenagers.  They are a type of violent, destructive storm that affects all those in their proximtiy.
    They will be “lovers of sensual pleasures and vain amusements.”  They will be preoccupied with the pursuit of their own comfort, pleasure, lusts, and happiness.  They will practice these in excess and ignore anything that has to do with the true worship of God.
    Now, the Holy Spirit did not inform us of the “perilous times” to worry us.  “He forewarned us of these things in advance so we could spiritually reinforce ourselves to live victoriously and free until Jesus returns!” (Rick Renner)  It is important that we realize that self-centered living does not produce happiness.  It is also vital that we know that God is more concerned about our obedience rather than our happiness.  God does not want you to be happy above all else.  God wants servants who practice obedience.
    People ask the question, “What will it be like in the end times?”  Read these verses and see the description that Paul gives is right from the nightly news.
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Ponder This:  To be mature means that we learn, “that it is even better to desire the things that we have than to have the things we desire.” (Harry Drummond)