Lawlessness Abounding, Love Growing Cold

When the disciples asked Jesus what would be the signs of his coming, and of the end of the age, the first response he made was, "Take heed that no one deceives you." I love to read in Matthew 24 and see all the things Jesus said would happen during the end times, things that are happening now. Of course, it can be argued that we've been in the end times since the first century A.D., and perhaps believers throughout the ages saw similarities in their own time, just as we do today. But as for you and me, we are living in this one, and surely we can recognize many of these signs of the times. "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows" (Matthew 24:7,8). "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake. 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" (Matthew 24:11,12). I am not sure if I completely understand the relationship between lawlessness abounding and loving growing cold. The first thought that occurs to me is that as lawlessness increases on every hand in our cities and nations, believers grow weary and find it difficult to allow themselves to take the risks that love often requires. I do not really know. It is something to think about. I am saddened by Christians betraying each other, churches splitting, politics dividing church members and any number of other misunderstandings that may occur among people who profess Christ as their Savior, and perhaps you can too. I have to leave in a few minutes to go to my midweek meeting, and I am just going to leave you with that question to ponder, that is, how does abounding lawlessness affect the love of Christian believers? Because, remember that faith, hope and love abide, but the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:13) Just something to think about.