Cold Love

“And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.”  Matthew 24:12

 

Take a good look around the world nowadays.  Certainly things have been getting worse and worse, likely to accelerate as time goes on.  There are still a lot of ‘good’ people out there, people who care, people who help others, people who think of their neighbors and community, even people who will still help out strangers.  Our societies of the world have certainly fallen and in previous times of history things have actually been much worse in certain regions.

 

What we do see here, happening all over the world, is also an escalation of lawlessness, also known as iniquity or sin.  The Bible clearly states the connection between iniquity and cold love.  I wonder how much of this is related to ‘without natural affection’?

 

“For the wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is clearly recognized by them, for God has revealed it to them.  For ever since the creation of the world the unseen things of Him are clearly perceived, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they know God, they do not glorify Him as God, nor are thankful, but become vain in their reasonings, and their stupid hearts are darkened.  Professing to be wise, they become foolish, and change the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man, and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.  Therefore God also gives them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who change the truth of God into the lie, and fear and serve the created things more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.  For this reason God gives them up to vile passions. For even their women change the natural use for what is contrary to nature.  Likewise also the men, abandoning the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust toward one another, men with men performing what is shameful, and receiving the retribution within themselves, the penalty which is fitting for their error.  And even as they do not like to have God in their full true knowledge, God gives them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with every unrighteousness, sexual perversion, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, depravity; whisperers, defamers, haters of God, insolent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, without natural affection, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do them, but also approve of those who practice them.”  Romans 1:18-32

 

 

“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, unyielding, slanderers, without self-control, savage, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away.”  2nd Timothy 3:1-5

 

Let’s take a look at this situation from a couple of different perspectives.  First let’s take a look at it at face value, as it is right now in many parts of the country.  There is much cold love throughout the United States. 

 

The other day I was taking a walk and found a church had signs warning the homeless that they were not allowed to sleep on their steps.  Now I found this to be quite interesting, as hundreds of other businesses I have walked past do not have such signs, why a church?  The office was opened and I stepped inside to have a chat with those people to try and find the reason for this policy.

 

The issue was two folded, first they claimed to not necessarily have a problem with the homeless sleeping on their steps (which would allow shelter from most rainstorms), but they told of how the health department was bothering them, because they had no bathroom facilities.  Secondly they talked about how many of the homeless were behaving and making violent comments.  Certainly arguments could be expounded either way, but for the sake of what I saw, I will simply leave it at that.

 

Now there certainly is some truth in the matter, even with those who call themselves Christians, in neglecting caring for those who are homeless, hungry, etc.  While many Americans do pitch in one way or another and our government redistributes wealth, there are many people who really have cold love towards those who are in unfortunate situations.  While I am certainly not going to get into the fact that the reality is there are many homeless people (and non homeless people) who are heavily addicted to a variety of drugs and lash out violently, make horrific comments, etc., the reality is in general this:

 

“What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Is faith able to save him?  If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, Depart in peace, be warmed and filled, but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?  Thus also faith, if it does not have works, being alone, is dead.”  Jacob (James) 2:14-17

 

Constantly the news talks about these horrific events that occur here and there throughout the United States.  Things that I will not even mention here, due to their graphic descriptive nature, myself preferring to not even have run across the headline.  However, what I would like to touch on here is the ‘without natural affection’, in terms of cold love. 

 

Luckily I was able to grow up as a child without the use of cell phones until I was older.  They came readily available by time I was in high school, but no one hardly had them.  After I graduated I got a pager, which was pretty ‘awesome’ to have back in the day.  The pager going off and having to walk to the nearest pay phone!  Finally my wife and I got a cell phone, though it was quite expensive to use it, so we didn’t use it a bunch.  This extra instant communication seemed to make relationships better, you could actually got a hold of people at any time.  Back then, having a cell phone or pager nearly almost meant that you would instantly return a call.

 

In my senior year of high school, the internet finally had pictures.  This finally became available and seemed much better than simply text, which was awesome enough.  While the internet is a great medium to be able to learn, communicate, utilize, etc., it also in general has allowed an entire society to have instant access to ever sort of iniquity that man can devise, as then even more is devised.  Reminds me of the days of Noah…

 

“And Jehovah saw that the evil of man was great on the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all day long.”  Genesis 6:5

 

“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of Heaven, but My Father only.  But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.  For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and did not realize until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.  Then two will be in the field: one is taken and the other is left.  Two will be grinding at the mill: one is taken and the other is left.  Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord comes.  But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief comes, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be dug through.  Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man comes at an hour you do not expect.  Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made administrator over his household, to give them food in due season?  Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing.  Truly, I say to you that he will appoint him as administrator over all his possessions.  But if that wicked servant says in his heart, My master delays his coming, and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not expecting him and in an hour he does not know, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”  Matthew 24:36-51

 

While I don’t purport to have all of the answers, there was just a recent study that showed teenagers and young adults are now lonelier than those forgotten senior citizens in homes across the United States.  This is insane!  Despite the fact that they all have social media, the affection has truly become unnatural.  Think about it, there is affection, the Bible doesn’t say it is not affection, but it clearly states ‘without natural affection’.  Given that also the internet is literally a gateway to information that is full of iniquity, and many do go searching after such things, are the two a cause of cold love?

 

While there certainly are a lot of decent people out there, there are equally a bunch of people who would and do walk over people who have been shot and are in the process of dying, so that they can pick up their snacks at the convenience store.  There are people who are in such a rush that they will never know their neighbors names, nor care.  They don’t care about others whom are not in their immediate clan, they have cold love towards them. 

 

As the world becomes more and more violent and more and more engulfed in sin, there too becomes a cold love towards those who are true Christians and stand firm to what the Bible clearly teaches regarding sin.  For instance, taking a stand against attending professional baseball because one disagrees with the MLB and their new resounding proclamation of support for the LGBT community.  These people who support such iniquity would certainly have hatred towards the Believer who stands firm regarding the clear teachings of Scripture.

 

“Remember the Word that I said to you, A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My Word, they will keep yours also.  But all these things they will do to you on account of My name, because they do not know Him who sent Me.  If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin.  He who hates Me hates My Father also.  If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin. But now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father.”  John 15:20-24

 

There is another way to look at this also and this will be jotted down for those who come across this article after the Rapture has happened and they are living in the “time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jer. 30:7), better known as the Tribulation. 

 

There will come such a time as this and indeed if we were to look at the Roman Catholic Church’s massacre of Bible-Believing Christians during the dark ages, we could get a hint to just how horrific this time will be.

 

“And brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and put them to death.”  Matthew 10:21

 

This has happened and guarantee you that civilization as a whole during the time of the Tribulation will report to the authorities those who seek Christ during this time period, to be led away to death.  Talk about cold love, during this time, a horrific period.

 

“For then there will be great affliction, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.  And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be kept safe alive; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.”  Matthew 24:21-22

 

During that time period the love of the world will have gone cold.  Right now we have a mixed bag, certainly there are good people and then we hear of all of these horrific events that occur, not only in the United States, but around the world. 

 

We’ve addressed some of these issues before and you certainly can visit the Left Behind section at the website, but really why be Left Behind? 

 

Truly one can look at the cold love as heartless events, unnatural affection and the other ills of society, from the curse that has spread. 

 

“Behold, Jehovah empties the earth and makes it bare, and distorts its face, and scatters its inhabitants.  And as it is with the people, so it shall be with the priest; as with the servant, so with the master; as with the maid, so it is with her mistress; as with the buyer, so with the seller; as with the lender, so with the borrower; as with the creditor, so with the debtor.  The land shall be completely emptied, and utterly plundered; for Jehovah has spoken this Word.  The earth mourns and fades away; the world droops and fades away; the haughty people of the earth grow feeble.  The earth is also defiled under its inhabitants; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, and have broken the perpetual covenant.  Therefore the curse has devoured the earth, and those who dwell in it are held guilty; therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men are left.  The new wine mourns, the vine droops, all the merry-hearted sigh.  The mirth of the tambourines ceases; the tumult of the jubilant ends; the joy of the harp ceases.  They shall not drink wine with a song; strong drink is bitter to those who drink it.  The city of emptiness is broken down; every house is shut up so that no one may come in.  There is a cry for wine in the streets; all joy is darkened, the mirth of the land has gone.  Desolation is left in the city, and the gate is battered and destroyed.  For so it is in the midst of the land among the people. It shall be like the shaking of an olive tree, and as gleanings of grapes when the vintage has been finished.  They shall lift up their voice, they shall sing for the majesty of Jehovah, they shall cry aloud from the sea.  Therefore glorify Jehovah in the light of the fire, the name of the Lord Jehovah of Israel from the seashores.  From the ends of the earth we have heard songs, glory to the righteous. But I said, Leanness to me! Leanness to me! Woe to me! Deceivers deceive, even with treachery. Deceivers deceive!  Terror and the pit and the snare are upon you, O inhabitant of the earth.  And it shall be that he who flees from the sound of terror shall fall into the pit. And he who comes up out of the midst of the pit shall be caught in the snare. For the windows from on high are opened, and the foundations of the earth quake.  The earth has been badly broken! The earth is split open and cracked through! The earth has shaken greatly and is tottering!  Like a drunkard the earth is staggering back and forth! And it sways to and fro like a hut! Its transgressions have been heavy upon it; and it shall fall and not rise again.  And it shall come to pass in that day that Jehovah will punish the host of the haughty ones on high; and on earth, the kings of the earth.  And they shall be gathered, as prisoners are gathered in a dungeon. And they shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days they shall be visited.  Then the moon shall be abashed, and the sun shall be ashamed, when Jehovah of Hosts shall reign on Mount Zion, in Jerusalem, and before His elders, in splendor.”  Isaiah 24

 

Don’t wait!  The world is not going to get to be a better place, but all have sinned and the penalty for sin is death.  Understand that if your name is not written in the Book of Life, you too will also have eternal punishment in the Lake of Fire, this is serious business. 

 

“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”…  Romans 3:23

 

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Romans 6:23

 

“And I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heavens fled away. And there was found no place for them.  And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God. And books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, out of the things which were written in the books.  And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one, according to their works.  And Death and Hades were cast into the Lake of Fire. This is the second death.  And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the Lake of Fire.”  Revelation 20:11-15

 

Please take heed!

 

“And he said to me, Do not seal the Words of the Prophecy of this Book, for the time is at hand.  He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still.  And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to what his work shall be.  I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the Ending, the First and the Last.  Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the Tree of Life, and may enter through the gates into the city.  But outside are dogs and sorcerers and prostitutes and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and produces a lie.  I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify these things to you, to the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.  And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him who hears say, Come. And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take of the Water of Life freely.”  Revelation 22:10-17

 

Repent and by faith believe into Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior!

 

“Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has established a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has appointed. He has given assurance of this to everyone by raising Him from the dead.”  Acts 17:30-31

 

“Thus says Jehovah of Hosts: Set your heart on your ways.”  Haggai 1:7

 

“And as it is appointed for men to die once, and after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, without sin, unto salvation.”  Hebrews 9:27-28

 

“For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.  For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man some would even be bold enough to die.  But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.  For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.  And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.  Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to every person, because everyone sinned.  For until the Law sin was in the world, but sin is not accounted when there is no law.  Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.  But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many.  And the gift is not like it was through the one who sinned. For the judgment from one offense was unto condemnation, but the free gift from many offenses is unto justification.  For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who are receiving abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.  Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment was to every person unto condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift is to every person unto justification of life.  For as through one man’s disobedience many were declared sinners, so also through one Man’s obedience many will be declared righteous.  Moreover the Law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness unto eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  Romans 5:6-21

 

“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”  Romans 15:13

 

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that everyone believing into Him should not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send His Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.  The one believing into Him is not judged; but the one not believing is judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.  And this is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.  For everyone practicing evil hates the Light and does not come to the Light, lest his deeds should be reproved.  But the one doing the truth comes to the Light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been worked in God.”  John 3:16-21

 

Amen!