“And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.”
Matthew 24:12–13
We cannot have the Spirit of God at work in the same space as the flesh, not because God is powerless, but because there must be one Master who rules. God will not strive with the flesh. Lukewarmness among believers often springs from unstable preference—we cannot eat our cake and have it. Our desires may swing between pursuing God and pursuing pleasure, but only one can truly govern the heart at a time. Iniquity does not abound without a force behind it, and that force often rises from lust. As the heart bows to another master, priorities shift from what is eternal to what is earthly and perishable.
When focus turns toward self more than toward God, coldness quietly settles in. It is not wizardry; it is instability born of divided affection. Passion for the things of God weakens. The Word that once stirred hunger can begin to feel boring, heavy, or even offensive. Gradually, endurance fades, and what once required conviction is now negotiated.
Discouragement may also come from others who have derailed, making it seem easier to live without a cross, accountability, or godly leadership. When we measure God’s presence by emotion rather than faith, we may consider waiting on Him unnecessary. But wait, I say, wait. God is not governed by feelings. Let faith produce patience, that we may endure to the end.
Charge: Ask the Lord for the grace to be kept by His right hand and to keep your zeal alive in Him daily.
Further Study: Colossians 3:1–4; Galatians 5:16–17; James 1:12; Hebrews 12:1–2; Revelation 2:4–5.
