Remain Faithful

But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. 
-Second Timothy 3:14-15 (New Living Translation)

Why is it, that as we grow, we abandon the things that laid the foundation of our lives. Let me put it this way. In school, we'd learn to add, subtract, multiply and divide. By the time we reach high school, we are not reinforcing the elementary teachings, therefore, many forget them. I know people who are intelligent in book smarts, but can't add, subtract, multiply or divide without a calculator. We abandon the early teachings. It's the same in our walk with Christ. We build our lives upon the teaching of Jesus. We move beyond and discuss things that are not important. We move beyond the basic teaching of Jesus, and into the doctrines and teachings of men. I think that is the idea behind what Paul told Timothy in these verses.

Verse 14 says, "But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you." In Second Timothy 3:1-8, Paul is warning Timothy about the coming end times. Look what he says in verses 2-5, "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!" Paul is warning Timothy that he must remain faithful to what he was taught, because he was taught by someone he can trust. Verse 15 says, "You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus." Timothy must remain faithful to the Scriptures taught to him from childhood. He came from a background of people who loved Jesus and His Word. Second Timothy 1:5 says, " I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you." Those are the things he must remain faithful to, the genuine faith taught him, and the genuine faith that teaches our need to salvation.

It seems that genuine faith that teaches our need for salvation has got sidetracked somewhere. Are you remaining faithful to those early teachings that laid the foundation of your life in Christ? Or have you forsaken those and chase after the doctrines of man? Think About It.