Yeshua said that just before the Great Tribulation there would be a difficult period for the world, called "the beginning of sorrows." This time period involves wars and rumors of wars, earthquakes, and diseases in various places. This is the time when the rule of law is in namesake only with leaders and criminals doing as they wish. Without question, the days we live in satisfy the definition Yeshua gave. But He went further. He said that the love of many would grow cold.
Because lawlessness is increased, most people's love will grow cold. Matthew 24:12
What exactly does that mean? This expression of love growing cold speaks to basic human kindness and decency.
Last week, the media were all in a buzz about a number of celebrities whose private electronic data had been "hacked." Apparently, these women had private photos of themselves naked as well. These photos were then stolen and posted on a number of internet sites for viewing. How embarrassing!!
Before we jump on the victims and say that they should never have permitted naked photos of themselves to be taken, let us remember that the photos were stolen. Where is the decency in this event and how is it part of "the love of many shall grow cold?" There is certainly no decency or love on the part of those who stole the material. They are thieves and electronic "peeping Toms." And, there is no decency or love on the part of those who viewed or wanted to view the material after it was released. Their lusts are revealed, and they are as guilty as those who stole it. But, where is the person who loves his neighbor and "covers the naked?"
Is it not [righteousness] to divide your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into the house; when you see the naked, to cover him; and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? Isaiah 58:8
Yeshua was right about love growing cold. There is none noble here, and there is not enough love here to step in and offer a covering for the nakedness of others.
Let me share another event that just happened in Memphis, Tennessee. A group of teens, about 100 of them, decided to go on a rampage in a shopping plaza parking lot and a grocery store. They were running wild and decided to randomly attack innocent people, including grocery store clerks and customers with groceries. Three people were beaten with fists, kicked, and severely injured. They also took video of themselves perpetrating the event!
I can understand a single person randomly harming another; I can even understand a couple of thugs conspiring together to hurt someone. But how do you get a large group of teens to suddenly participate in a spontaneous riot and randomly harm innocent people? This can only be explained by concluding that they have no human decency or love (respect) for their fellow human beings. This is an escalation of the "knockout" game, where one or two persons would randomly strike someone in the head.
These are only small events now, but they are the beginning of many that will follow, according to Yeshua. These are not the kinds of acts where "kids will be kids." These are life-threatening acts. I fear that as word spreads and other teens try to emulate the event, someone will draw their concealed carry weapon and defend him-or-herself, severely wounding or killing some teens. Can you imagine the disaster that will result from that? I'm sure they will arrest the person defending themselves because the teens were "unarmed."
The world is going crazy. The love and sanity of many have grown cold!
