“And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” (Matt. 24:12)
I ask you, can you think of any age of mankind when the love of many was not cold, when all loved their neighbor as themselves, when “And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.” When Luke 6:31 was the normal attribute of man? No, you cannot, because it has never been so.
In the days that we live in there is a further decline of those attributes, but there has never been a time in the history of the planet when men were not at odds with each other, when pride, self, envy and jealousy did not rule in us. “And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” (Gen. 6:5)
There will be no peace until the Lord Jesus Christ returns to sit on the throne in the Millennial period, and even then, it will not be the normal attribute of mankind, one does not need to rule with a rod of righteousness when all hearts are turned toward the Lord.
I tire of those who have a need to continuously look for the next sign, who need to point out the next great transgression of the ways of man, who have forgotten Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Most of them have forgotten why we are here, to glorify God, to lift up the name of Jesus Christ, to reach out to the lost with the message of salvation and to encourage the brethren as they walk the path set before them.
I have been as guilty as others in this, bad news is sought for above good news, fear has its attractions, but the deceptions far outweigh the truth in these days, and most are easily led astray by the news of the day.
I have watched as men of God have not been forced, but perhaps coerced into preaching about these days nearly continuously instead of the meat of the Word of God, how each sermon or video presentation on their social media sites have the construct of an end of the world scenario, instead of staying on the path of righteousness. Again, I count myself among them, for the signs are indeed sure, the end of the age of the Gentiles is coming to a close, the Rapture will happen, the nations will be judged, Israel will be restored, but is that to be our main focus?
Warn of what is approaching, yes, of course, not so much here on earth, but to what awaits eternally for those who reject the Lord Jesus Christ as the only way to escape the eternal wrath of God. Encourage those who are our brothers and sisters in the Lord, not just to stand in these evil days, the days have always been evil my friends, but to prepare their hearts to remain in love towards all they meet.
If you cannot see them burning and screaming, you will not warn them of the fires of hell.
But today I see far too much of “Jesus is coming back soon!” of the terror of the Tribulation period that is approaching, of the “next sign” of His imminent return, and far too little of the eternal damnation that awaits all who reject Him. It is a balance we must strive for.
Look at the views on any social media site, which one garnishes the greater amount of views, those that attempt to evoke an emotional response, or those that show the intellectual truths of the Word of God?
Love grows cold when we keep it to ourselves.
What is your desire to speak about, what is approaching upon this planet, or the love of the Savior? I know which one gets more responses.
