Iniquity is abounding.
Iniquity is lawlessness. Jesus told his disciples and us in Matthew 24:12 that “because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” Because lawlessness is rampant in society, the love of many for Christ is dwindling. We see that in the church today. The things of this earth and living a carefree, spiritually lethargic lifestyle without Christ at the center are the lives of many. Satan has sent out a flood of great wickedness to devour us, to overcome us (Rev. 12:15). He didn’t send this flood to devour the wicked; he already has them in his clutches; he reigns in their hearts. His focus is on the church. He spends all his energy and time trying to destroy the church. He has learned much since the Fall in the Garden of Eden. He knows how to penetrate our homes through the internet, radio, cell phone, and TV.
We all know how much of a struggle this is in each of our lives. We need to be vigilant, patiently awaiting and looking forward to the return of Christ. Christ assures us, “But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved” (v 13). Are we going to be in a drunken entertained stupor when he comes, just as the people in the days of Noah were when the Flood came and destroyed them? Or will we be engaged in battle, actively destroying and rooting out the wickedness that Satan is trying to make reign in us. David in Psalm 101:8 says “I will early destroy all the wicked of the land; that I may cut off all wicked doers from the city of the Lord.” Notice the word “early.” David does not say, “I am going to live a carefree, Godless lifestyle now, watching what I want to watch, listening to what I want to listen to; after a few years of this, then I will start cutting it out of my life.” No! He says, “I’m going to cut off wickedness NOW! I’m not going to wait and be taken unawares when Christ comes again. In the same Psalm (v 6) David says “Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land.” It is important that our friends are like-minded when it comes to our faith and not allowing evil to reign in our hearts.
To those who are in the church only outwardly and who are carried away by the flood of great wickedness Christ will say, “I never knew you.” To those who live in a daily struggle against this flood now, but who are by grace elect children of God, the Lord will gently lead them back with the Shepherd’s staff.
By grace God gives us the strength to fight against this flood of wickedness. Where are we strengthened? In the church. We must remain in the church so that we are fed every week and strengthened for the week ahead!
RK
Young Calvinists 