Where is the coldest place on earth? Scientists agree that Oymyakon, Russia, located miles from the arctic circle, wins the world’s record. Travelers have said that it gets so cold (-58 degrees to -96 degrees) that their eyelashes and saliva freeze into painful needles or shards of glass! Locals have to wear multiple layers, multiple jackets, and several gloves. Here I thought New York and Michigan were cold. LOL!
Yet freezing Oymyakon, with its 500 or so population is a popular location for the extremely adventurous!
But there is a place on this earth that is far colder than Oymyakon! It indeed is the true “Pole of Cold”. It is the heart of a Christian stuffed with knowledge and little love. It is the heart of a Christian bingeing on worldliness while in Christ’s uniform. The Bible puts it this way… “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.“ Matthew 24:12
Who was God talking to during this end-time message? His Church! Let’s look at the context of this verse. Previous verses talks about God’s true people being persecuted, betrayed, deceived by false teachers (prophets) and being treated horribly not just because of their name, faith, knowledge, or obedience… but more because of Christ’s character shining through them. “Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.” Matthew 24: 9-11.
The church will be filled with people who hate one another enough to want them dead. Hate is a strong word… yet it describes the condition of hearts devoid or dying without Christ. When the love of many so-called Christians begins to spazz out, many will tear each other to pieces like starved beasts! Is this that hard to believe?
How are you and I treating those God has placed in our care? Do we treat those who are trying to live up to all the truths they know well? How are we treating Christ in our lives? Perhaps you and I are scorning, deriding, or making fun of people because of their allegiance to God? Are we overstuffed with knowledge and not enough Christ? Are we gluttons eating everything worldly and spewing out the backbone of our Christianity? Am I a back-biting snake in my workplace or a sweet balm? Are we endeavoring to live by every word that proceeds from God’s mouth or by our own buffet-style creeds? Do I snub people because I have an unforgiving heart? Do you have warm hearts enough to live the “Old time-but ALL-time religion”? Are you willing to live Christ fully in a church cloaked in gross darkness? Do we have the heart to light up a dark world made worse because of how we showcase our allegiance to Christ?
Today I ask myself, “Am I a ‘pole of cold’”? Do I compromise the cause of Christ for my own selfish desires or aspirations? Do I seek to save myself at the expense of others? Am I still in the faith even though I attend church? The Lord hits the root of our sin problem head on. Because we love iniquity, it has taken over our hearts and made them ice-boxes filled with nonchalance towards His ways and truth.
The first step in solving our problem is to heed God’s call through Paul to us in this generation:
Taste. Enjoy! Respond. Like! Share. Be encouraged!
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Excellent Admonition. Thanks!