THE OLD PATHS. Jesus said: “Because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold” Matthew 24:12. Lawlessness is rampant in the world. We can be thankful if we live in a county where the rule of law prevails and lawlessness is kept somewhat under control. But Jesus is referring to lawlessness in the church! Persecution would come. “And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved” Matthew 24:10-13.
This prediction has been fulfilled: many false prophets have arisen; they have deceived many; lawlessness does abound; and the love of many has grown cold.What is lawlessness? Lawlessness is a customary disregard of laws. A lawless person has little respect for law and refuses to be restricted by it. A law-abiding person wants to obey the law, but sometimes falls short. Every driver, for example, exceeds the speed limit at times. A lawless person ignores the speed limit!
Why does lawlessness cause love to grow cold?Jesus said: “Because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold”And indeed the love of many has grown cold. This is inevitable because lawlessness and love are not compatible. Lawlessness is a form of self-indulgence, and love is not self-indulgent. Love “does not seek its own” 1 Corinthians 13:5. Lawlessness betrays a lack of love. When Jesus was asked, “Which is the first commandment of all?” He replied, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets” Matthew 22:37-40.
By rejecting God’s law, a lawless person also rejects the love on which God’s law is based. Lawlessness betrays a lack of love for God. “The LORD is our Lawgiver” Isaiah 33:22
How can a lawless person (who scorns law) love the Lawgiver?Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” John 14:15 and “He who does not love Me does not keep My words” v. 24. John explained: “Whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him” 1 John 2:5. “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome” 1 John 5:3. God’s commandments are not burdensome for someone who loves God because he wants to please God.To a lawless person, however, God’s commandments are burdensome, because he does not love God, has no desire to please Him, and dislikes restrictions that conflict with his own desires.#runyourrace
To Learn More About Pastor Crystal please visit the Leadership Page
