At that time, many will lose their faith, and they will turn against each other and hate each other. Many false prophets will come and cause many people to believe lies. There will be more and more evil in the world, so most people will stop showing their love for each other. But those people who keep their faith until the end will be saved. The Good News about God’s kingdom will be preached in all the world, to every nation. Then the end will come. (Matthew 24:12–14)

As I was going through my weekly devotions I was reminded of this Bible prophesy. Jesus said that because of abounding lawlessness, the love of many will grow cold. What’s lawlessness? I have considered various translations, including covenant-breaking, sin, and iniquity.

But what is lawlessness? Does it include unkindness, indifference, broken promises, and hypocrisy? When people talk about keeping the commandments, they tend to mean only a few of them. They forget that loving God and our neighbor is central to the law (Romans 13:8-19-10). The law is expressed through the ways we treat, honor, serve, and respect one another. 

The prophecy quoted above is generally interpreted as referring to the centuries-long history of abandoning God’s law. Preachers preach the message that we must return to God because we have forsaken His law. Somehow, we have forgotten that many have been let down by religious people and groups, feeling left out, shunned, and excluded. Some have been pushed out by the coldness of religious people, and the light of people’s faith has grown cold and dim. Political divides have also made it harder to love others. How are we treating others, and what of our abandonment of God’s love? 
How are we holding on to our love for one another?

The good news is that the gospel about God’s kingdom of love will be given to all the world. One of the gospel’s saving effects is warming our hearts with God’s incredible love. Though Jesus predicted that the love of many would grow cold due to lawlessness, not everyone will become cold. Some will hold on to love until the very end. So hold on to the love of God and be warmed. I want to be among those who hold on to love despite what is happening in the world. It may be hard, but enduring love is the only option for survival. Hold on to love!

Craig Ashton Jr.