Poisonous blowfish and the End Time?

Timothy tells us that in the end of days, men will be reckless. Why is recklessness such an end times symptom? Haven't men always been reckless? Why does recklessness cause 'perilous times'?

Blowfish poison scare returns to Japan

Seven Japanese have fallen ill with one in a critical condition after eating the testes of blowfish, police said Tuesday, renewing public fears over the dangerous delicacy.

2 Timothy 3:1-5 "Perilous Times Will Come"

"But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these."

Recklessness means that people will be pursuing self-centered pleasure without thought to consequence. They will put themselves in danger, risking personal safety and risking the safety of others. These men who ate poisonous fish in the news article above are likely the bread winners of their family, and now their absence from the workforce puts their family in hardship.

Self-centeredness causes crisis when it is the culture's moral character on a grande scale. When everyone pursues their own, increasingly dangerous, activities, things spiral out of control. This is the "perilous times" Timothy is warning against. Just think about the televisions shows like Fear Factor and I Survived A Japanese Game Show, dangerous cuisine such as the poisonous blowfish, or any sport with the word 'Extreme' in front of it. These kind of reckless pursuits indicate a lack of respect for the value of life that God gave us.

There were two other times when self-gratification through reckless pursuits existed, the time before the judgment at the flood, and the time of the judgment at Sodom and Gomorrah. The reckless pursuit of self-gratification at all costs resulted in judgment. Timothy is telling us that this time again, such activities that center on the self rather than God will also result in judgment.

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