Love Shall Wax Cold

Two things are to be observed in these words: 1) a holy prophecy spoken by Christ about the last days, namely, love shall wax cold; 2) its origin and effect: Iniquity shall abound; that is, the cause of sin shall multiply.

What will take place? Love toward God and our neighbor shall wax cold — those deeds of love as described and commanded in God’s Word, “O love the LORD, all ye His saints: for the LORD preserveth the faithful” (Ps. 31:23). The Savior refers here to love for God, while He is saying that the time will come that people shall live as in Sodom; and He contrasts this with the watchful care man must have for his salvation, and love towards God’s law. Also he contrasts this to love towards each other in verses 6-7, “And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars.” Thus Christ emphasizes this lack of love in contrast to love for God and man as it should be practiced.

Whoso readeth, let him understand. Heartwarming love from God towards His people results in a burning love for God, through which a love is born towards their neighbors, to serve them to the best of their ability. This love is wrought by the eternal love of God. Although the love of many shall wax cold — in some, completely gone; in others, somewhat diminished — the love of God is described as: “The coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it” (S.S. 8:6-7).

Where then does this lack of love originate but from sin? Can there be any good fruit from a bad tree? Has not the abominable mother brought forth a disgraceful daughter? That is the reason why wickedness multiplies. “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away” (2 Tim. 3:1-5).

Behold the wicked passions they were possessed of, as we see in the mother and her daughter. If the mother is evil, how can the loveless daughter be any better? When the love of sin overpowers, then the love of Christ is not in us, because these two cannot go together — love for Christ and love for the world. “If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him”(1 John 2:15).

Heartwarming love from God towards His people results in a burning love for God, through which a love is born towards their neighbors, to serve them to the best of their ability.

Since this is such a deplorable evil, avoid it and be on your guard. Yet, love cannot wax cold in a heart in which Christ has written His love. You may now ask, “Why then these admonitions?” If you now say, “I will not follow your advice,” then you are waxed cold, because he who possesses the love of God remains firm in loving his brother. God’s children will not say this, even if it appears as if a whole congregation has waxed cold because godly people are taken away and no new converts come in their place, while the fear of the Lord diminishes. Then God’s people are grievously and bitterly disappointed. They lament and cry out, “Help, LORD, for the godly man ceaseth, for the faithful fail from among the children of men.”

Lest I Thy Spirit Grieve

Jesus, with sorrow and with shame,
My weakness I would own,
The treachery of this evil heart,
to evil sadly prone,
The worldliness I often feel,
The coldness of my love,
Affections too much fixed below,
Too little rest above.

Is such lukewarmness ever felt,
Such vileness ever proved,
By these of Thine whom Thou hast cleansed
And all their guilt removed?
Do they not rather oft obtain
Fresh victories over sin?
And daily find Thy mighty grace
Triumphant reign within?

Then can I hope that Thou wilt own
A creature so defiled,
So foolish, wavering and weak,
And so unlike a child?
Yet is there not a deep-drawn sigh,
Though smothered oft it be,
Which yearns for inward holiness
And would from sin be free?

Much of Thy sanctifying grace
Upon me, then, bestow,
And let the purifying stream
Through my whole being flow.
Thy living, healing, cleansing Word
May I in faith receive,
And feel its oft reviving power
Lest I Thy Spirit grieve.

— M. Winslow

Rev. Jodocus van Lodenstein (1620-1677), a renowned Dutch Second Reformation divine, pastored congregations at Zoetermeer (1644-50), Sluis (1650-53), and Utrecht (1653-77). He was a well- known writer and poet. This article was translated from De heerlijkheid van een waar christelijk leven.

Deze tekst is geautomatiseerd gemaakt en kan nog fouten bevatten. Digibron werkt voortdurend aan correctie. Klik voor het origineel door naar de pdf. Voor opmerkingen, vragen, informatie: contact.

Op Digibron -en alle daarin opgenomen content- is het databankrecht van toepassing. Gebruiksvoorwaarden. Data protection law applies to Digibron and the content of this database. Terms of use.

Printen