Matthew 24:12 says that “and because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.”
If you’ve taken out time to patiently read and meditate the whole of Matthew 24, you will realize that there aren’t any good news in it. But the peculiarity of the chapter of this book is that it centers on the happenings in these last days. This chapter has its witnesses from other books of the bible like Joel(2), Isaiah(60), Revelation, I Timothy and II Timothy and others.
Our focus of discussion isn’t the whole of Matthew 24 but verse 12. Although it is doctrinally unacceptable to seclude a verse from previous or next few verses for “isolated” interpretation or meaning. We will try as much as possible to make very few references to previous or verses after or even references from other books of the bible. Carefully look at verses 10, 11 and 12, these three verses starts with the word “and.”
“And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.”
That is to say that the beginning of these three verses (10, 11 and, 12) especially is at least from verse 8 or 9 which says “8 all these are the beginning of sorrows. 9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.” Just as verses before verse 8 meant the all these in verse 8, likewise is verse 9 downwards a revelation of the second phase of what to expect before Jesus’ appearance in the sky.
Verses 9 to 12 told us what to expect in its full strength. They are afflictions, killings, hatred, offences, betrayal, increase in the number of false prophets, deception, increase in iniquity and lately, adverse effect on ones love. Almost all these 9 influencers in the last days are unutterable except for the last one. The first seven influencers are very certain and unchangeable simply because they were in days of Jesus and His disciples/apostles.
What I meant by being certain is that they cannot be stopped or changed. They will happen as prophesied, but the last influencers can be changed or otherwise. There are six determinants to how ones love will be. There are 3 positive and 3 negative determinants. The 3 positive determinants are: conviction, commitment and contention. While the 3 negative determinants are: compromise, complacency and convenience. Each group of three determinants whether in the positive or negative side work hand in hand.
Let’s examine the positive determinants first, thereafter we will look into the negative determinants. The leading determinant among these three positive determinants is conviction while the other two determinants follow suit. As conviction leads, to contend wouldn’t be a problem neither will commitment be unattainable. It’s those that don’t have a conviction primarily that will either struggle or their love for God is zero.
Convenience leads the other 3 negative determinants. It is when one is at ease that the other two negative determinants express themselves effortlessly. A Christian that does his responsibilities when he’s at ease, certainly, the quality of what is done will reduce with time. The dangerous thing about convenience is that the activities will still be evident but the quality of what should be done will deteriorate gradually until nothing is left.
In conclusion, let’s ensure we are on the positive determinants side and we can do this by taking hold on God’s helping grace for those of us whose love is already cold. Then, we push through with the help we’ve received. The Lord will help us to make our love for Him relevant in Jesus name, amen.
Shalom!!!!
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