Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.
One of the signs at the end of days will be that the Spirit of the age (lawlessness) will seduce people away from their first love. Gradually their love of God will grow cold. It won’t grow into greater love but it will slow to a halt and fade away.
This is a contrast to Matthew 22 where we are told the greatest command, the highest value in the kingdom is to love the Lord our God. Love for God is what the kingdom of God operates on. The danger comes when we slowly, subtly allow that love for God to be diluted, redirected and ultimately replaced; it is a perilous place to be.
But the promise we have is that, he who stands firm to the end will be saved.
As lawlessness increases and as the love of people who claim the name of Jesus grows cold, be on guard. Don’t look to your peers to compare how you are doing. Don’t rationalise your life on the basis of those around you. Don’t justify and explain away behaviours because everyone else is living that way.
Why? Because lawlessness is increasing! The world around you is moving away from God. It is never a good gauge for measuring your life by. In fact, doing so will take you along with it and away from the love of God.
Instead, look to Jesus. He is the author and perfecter of your faith. In the midst of those who are slipping away from God and His love, press in to Jesus even more. Lawlessness may be abounding – and we are told it is. But we are told so we can be on guard, to cultivate and encourage our love for God as He pours out His into our hearts.
PRAYER: Father I come to you and confess I am in need of you and your love. I choose to separate myself from the lawlessness of this generation. Guard me against allow my love for you to grow cold. Fill me with your love today, In Jesus name, Amen.