From the previous blog we saw were lawlessness is the backcloth of the Last Days.
A key point in that post: when justice fails, lawlessness rules.
To go one step further today, when lawlessness rules in that day there is a consequence:
“Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold.”
– Matthew 24:12 NASB
Greek scholar Marvin Vincent gives us an interesting definition of a love that will “grow cold” (“wax cold,” KJV),
“The verb means originally to breathe or blow; and the picture is that of spiritual energy blighted or chilled by a malign or poisonous wind.”[1]
The “spiritual energy” referenced in his definition is love.
More specifically, and applied to our Lord’s use in Matthew 24, it was the ultimate word for love used in the Greek language, agape (agapao).
“In respect of agapao as used of God, it expresses the deep and constant ‘love’ and interest of a perfect Being towards entirely unworthy objects, producing and fostering a reverential ‘love’ in them towards the Giver, and a practical ‘love’ towards those who are partakers of the same, and a desire to help others to seek the Giver.”[2]
In examining Vine’s definition further through the context of Matthew 24:12, we know that lawlessness will never affect God’s (the Perfect Being) love towards us (entirely unworthy objects) based on (but not limited to) John 3:16.
However, it is we (the entirely unworthy objects of His love) who can allow lawlessness to affect our love:
• Towards Him, as the poisonous winds of lawlessness increase, and we say, “How can God let this happen?”
• Towards fellow believers, as the maligning breeze of lawlessness rises, and we say, “How can they do that and say they’re a believer?”
• Towards mankind in general, as the blighting winds of lawlessness gust, and we say, “How can I love someone so sinful and vile?”
The truth is many ask those same questions and let their love wax cold; in fact, “most people” will is what Jesus said. But the “most people” doesn’t have to be you or me.
In writing to the Thessalonians, Paul gave us the antidote of lovelessness in the time of lawlessness. It is a remedy found in prayer:
“Now may our God and Father Himself and Jesus our Lord direct our way to you; and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you; so that He may establish your hearts without blame in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.”
– 1 Thessalonians 3:11-13 NASB
In his prayer,
“the apostle prays for an increase of love in order to the attainment of a higher personal purity. All defects in obedience issue from a defect in love.
• Our love of God makes us solicitous to know and obey Him and fearful to offend Him.
• Our love of man makes us careful to preserve his honour, life, and possessions, and in no way to impair his happiness.
The whole of the law is love. There is no duty to God or man but love inclines unto, and no sin from which it does not restrain. To be unblamable in holiness, store the soul with love. When love fails, obedience and all holy duties fail.”[3]
Preparing for that day necessitates praying for an increase of His love on this day, as the Apostle prayed,
“And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.”
– 2 Thessalonians 3:5 KJV).
