“BECAUSE INIQUITY SHALL ABOUND.”
By T.
In speaking of the days that immediately precede His second coming, the Lord says, “Because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” Matt. 24:12. This text shows two very important facts,—that there will be an abounding of iniquity, and that the love of many will wax cold because of it. Perhaps the unscriptural doctrine of a peace millennium just before the second coming of Christ has more to do in producing this coldness than any other one thing. The people at large have been taught that the world is getting better all the time. But in the actual reality of things they fail to see it. Instead of this worldwide peace and righteousness, they see that “iniquity is abounding,” and, not being able to harmonize the facts with their millennium ideas, they become indifferent, and love waxes cold. It is perfectly natural for love to grow cold in the midst of iniquity. But what we are in the habit of calling “natural” in the acts of mankind is natural only to sin and a sinful state. The true nature that God gave to man in the beginning, and that He is seeking to restore to us, will “draw warmth from the coldness of others, courage from their cowardice, and loyalty from their treason.” We see a man making high professions, but we know that his daily life is not at all in harmony with his pretensions. Then, instead of our summoning new courage to represent the true, and thus allow God to have witnesses who will overthrow the influence of the hypocrite, we allow our love to “wax cold.” There is nothing so inspiring as to see a man standing true in the very midst of corruption and treason. Traitors are shaming him; they are offering him bribes, and they seek to weary his loyalty by their abounding evils and disgraceful acts. They would have him become discouraged so that he will say it is no use to hold out longer against the evil. Or, perhaps, he is thrown off his guard by constant association with sin, and gradually and imperceptibly love grows cold. The text shows that it is the latter plan that Satan really works upon. “Because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” Their love “waxes” cold. It does not become cold all at once, but “waxes” cold. By almost imperceptible degrees, sometimes, the daily contact with iniquity chills the love from the soul. But God needs valiant soldiers in these times. Men are wanted who refuse to be influenced by anything except the good. How is your love? Is it waning? Is it “waxing cold”? The Saviour has forewarned us. Do not be among the many whose love “shall wax cold” “because iniquity shall abound.”