The Increase Of Wickedness

These days I tend to question whether or not I want to watch the news on television. It's good to be informed about what is going on in the world. Yet, at the same time, it is difficult to watch for the very same reason - what's going on in the world.

The most recent mass shooting took place in South Carolina in a church Bible study no less. A young man walked into a church and killed nine people. I would have a really hard time with all of the violence this world is offering up these days if it weren't for my faith and the things I have come to know.

All of this - the increased lawlessness, the hatred we are showing for one another, the love we are supposed to have for one another, vanishing - it has all been predicted in the Bible.

"10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved." - Matthew 24:10-13

Those words were spoken by Jesus when His disciples asked Him what signs they might see that His return might be imminent. The signs Jesus spoke of are all visible on the nightly news.

As I read through the Bible, especially the prophetic texts, I can't help but come to the conclusion that the time is near for His coming. There's a whole series of things that are supposed to happen. A lot of that is WAY beyond my comprehension. All I know is, Jesus is coming back, He gave us some signs to look for, I'm seeing many of them happening right now. What other conclusion should we draw?

The increase of wickedness we are seeing is particularly disturbing. Innocent people are being killed at a greater rate than ever before. What's a people to do?

1. Read the Bible - Read so you will become knowledgeable about the signs if the times.
2. Pray - Let God hear your sorrow and your desire for a more loving world. He DOES hear your prayer!
3. Love One Another - Love comes from God. If we all loved one another, as Jesus commanded, we wouldn't be having these problems.
4. Spread The Gospel - Only a saving faith in Jesus can get us through this mess. He is our only source of hope.

The only way we can lead a desperate and dying world out of the darkness is to shine brightly of love for one another. And that love comes from God. It is HIS love, shining through us, that stands out in a world filled with evil.

Did you watch the people in the courthouse addressing the young man who killed their brothers and sisters in Christ? They forgave him. They prayed for him. That is something that this world has trouble believing - that Christians would care about someone that just killed their friends. That is because they do not understand the Gospel. We need to do a better job of presenting it and sharing it and loving those that the world finds unlovable.

"11 For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12 We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother's righteous. 13 Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. 15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 17 But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? 18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

19 By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; 20 for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; 22 and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. 23 And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 24 Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us." - 1 John 11:24

What The World Needs Now Is Love - Jackie DeShannon