Is Christianity in Crisis? Has your love for God grown cold?

There is a scripture on my heart that I just cannot shake. It just keeps coming back and I do believe it is a warning about the times we are living in. 

Jesus referring to the last days said, “Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” (Matthew 24:12-13)

According to Jesus, in the last times there will be a rise in rebellion and lawlessness. Sin will flourish and will spread unchecked and will be like an uncontrolled wildfire, causing destruction wherever it goes.

This is happening, and as a result, many who once had a vibrant walk with God have grown cold. 

Today I ask you to please consider your ways.  

“Return to Me,” declares the Lord of hosts, “and I shall return to you.” (Zechariah 1:3)

Although Jesus warned us that in the last times sin will be rampant, and although Jesus said the love of many will grow cold, Jesus also told us, “But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” (Matthew 24:13)

It is time to rise-up, to stand firm, and to persevere. 

There seems to be a falling away…

It seems like there has been an explosion of sin. Things that were once called holy and good are now being called evil. And the result is that many have grown cold, indifferent, and complacent in their faith. 

“Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons. These people are hypocrites and liars, and their consciences are dead.” (1 Timothy 4:1-2)

The world is in crisis. It is not just the impact of a microscopic organism called COVID, but something far greater confronts us. It is an invisible virus that is affecting the whole world, resulting in many turning away from God. Many are completely unaware of the present danger.

Around the world the influence of Christian values on society is progressively declining.  Many are “woke”, passionate about social injustices, but have let go of God. Traditional godly morals and values are disintegrating and being discarded, leaving many on a slippery slope to destruction.

Boundaries are being broken down. So many are left feeling emotionally needy and vulnerable. Many are wounded. The godless culture of our day is doing its best to offer an alternative solution that is leading many astray.

Many are on a serious mission to make Christianity out to be an archaic, old fashioned, oppressive religion that has no place in the modern world. Many are doing their best to break down godly foundations. Yes, there are many oppressive events in history that have caused much hurt and pain, that are shocking and completely unacceptable, but we cannot “throw the baby out with the bath water”. You cannot throw out Jesus and godly values just because some evil people have misrepresented truth and done diabolical things in the name of Christianity. 

Even in many churches around the world, compromise and worldliness has crept in, with a progressive view forming that is even trying to distort the true meaning of the Good News of Jesus. 

The Good News is all about Jesus. We were cut off from God because of sin. Sin leads to death, but Jesus paid the full price on the cross for sin. He rose from the grave so that whoever believes in Him and takes him as their Lord and Savior can come back into an eternal relationship with God.

The Good News of Jesus is powerful and life changing, but when it is watered down, it is compromised. It becomes powerless and ineffective. No wonder there are some who have compromised and grown cold towards God.

We need to arise from a half-hearted, wishy washy state of complacency. We cannot blend in with the new cultural revolution and dilute the power of the Gospel. We need to stand up for truth. 

Jesus warned us, “Beware of the false prophets, [teachers] who come to you dressed as sheep [appearing gentle and innocent], but inwardly are ravenous wolves.” (Mathew 7:15)

Jesus continued, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day [when I judge them], ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, and driven out demons in Your name, and done many miracles in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them publicly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me [you are banished from My presence], you who act wickedly [disregarding My commands].’” (Matthew 7:21-23)

Let me ask you a question: In this scripture who was Jesus referring to?

It’s not the godless. It is not the atheist. They would not refer to Jesus as Lord. Surely He was referring to the person who has a form of godliness, but has grown cold. 

Paul told Timothy, “In the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!” (2 Timothy 3:1-5)

We are told that the last days will be difficult. They will be terrible times.

People will be lovers only of themselves. Selfish. They will be lovers of money. Brash. Boastful. Full of pride. Abusive. Disobedient. Ungrateful. Unholy. Immoral. Unforgiving. Slanderous. They will have no self-control. Cruel. Brutal. Full of hate. Rash. Conceited. People will become lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.

Many will have a form of spirituality, but they will reject Jesus. Many will have a form of godliness, but they will deny the power of God. Paul tells Timothy to have nothing to do with them.

There is a great falling away that is not only destroying the moral fiber of society, but is also causing much anxiety and turmoil, and it is leaving many broken, troubled, confused, and cold towards God.

In the Book of Romans, Paul tells us that people thought up “foolish ideas of what God is like”.  He tells us that “as a result, their minds became dark and confused.” Many “claiming to be wise, have instead become utter fools.” They turned from God and made up their own god’s. (Romans 1:21-23)

Paul writes, “So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies. They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen. That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires.” (Romans 1:24-26)

Paul tells us that because they rejected God, God “abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done.” Their lives became “full of every kind of wickedness and sin.” They became immoral, proud and “haters of God”. “They invented new ways of sinning”, they “refuse to understand”, they “break their promises, are heartless, and have no mercy.” Paul concluded by saying that these people, “know that because of this they will face God’s judgement, but they keep on living a life devoid of God and they “encourage others” to live sinful lives too. (Romans 1:28-32)

Is Christianity really in crisis?

No. Jesus is alive. He has all power in heaven and earth. He is the sustainer of life. Jesus is the Savior. But the world is in serious crisis, and many have grown cold towards God. Many are progressively falling away. 

Hebrews 12:26-27 tells us, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” 

There is a worldwide shaking taking place, but I need to tell you that God’s Kingdom cannot and will not be shaken. God’s Kingdom is eternal. 

Hebrews 12:28-29 tells us that God’s “Kingdom cannot be shaken.”

As God’s ambassadors, we need to rise-up and stand up for what is right and share the Good News with the broken and lost.

Where does your hope lie? Is your hope in a fragile worldly ideology or in God? I implore you to put your hope and faith in God. If you are part of God’s Kingdom, you can stand secure.

Are you empty?

This steady decline is leaving a spiritual vacuum, and many are left feeling empty.

My friend, only God can fill that void. Only God can bring lasting peace and lasting purpose and fulfilment.

Blaise Pascal said, “There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of every man which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God, the Creator, made known through Jesus Christ.”

Billy Graham said, “Within every one of us is what has been called “a God-shaped vacuum” — a spiritual emptiness in our souls that only God can fill. My prayer is that you won’t try to fill it with anything less than the living God… This is why I urge you to turn to Jesus Christ.”

If you are broken, empty, confused, or wounded, turn to Jesus Christ. He wants to heal your life. He wants to forgive and cleanse you. If you have grown cold, it is time to return to God. He wants to re-ignite a passion in your heart.

Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

Jesus warned us that in the last days, “Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold.” (Matthew 24:12)

But there is hope in Jesus. 

Please consider where you stand with God. There is more to life than the here and now. Jesus paid a huge price, He gave his life on the cross to ensure that we can come back into a relationship with God, a relationship that can start today, and that goes on into eternity. 

If you want to start or restart your walk with God, click here to pray a simple prayer we have set up for you.

If you have grown cold, return to God…

“Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish.” (Joel 2:13)

If you have allowed yourself to cool off, it is time for a comeback. Draw near to God. When you do, he will draw close to you, and he will refresh your soul. 

“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” (Acts 3:19)

God also wants to revive you. He so dearly wants to fan into flames a new passion in your heart.

“Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13) 

It is time to stand up for what is true and right…

The message of the Kingdom of God is not popular in our current world, but Jesus is the answer. He is the solution.  Jesus is still on the throne. He is the Savior of the world. Without Jesus mankind is lost for eternity. Jesus is the living hope. 

We need to stand up for truth. We need to stand firm and proclaim the Good News without compromise. As God ambassadors, we need to lift up the light of the world. 

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12) 

Let us pray

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14)

God calls us to do 4 things…

• Humble ourselves. 
• Pray. 
• Seek His face. 
• Turn from our wicked ways.

When we do, God promises to…

• Hear our prayers. 
• Forgive our sins. 
• Heal our land.

That is a picture of revival and breakthrough.

Father, our world is lost. So many are broken, hurting, and confused. Lord our world, (that you created), is in crisis. We need you desperately to intervene. We ask you to usher in a new season of spiritual renewal. Reignite a passion in our hearts for you. We humble ourselves before you. We pray to you and ask you to heal our world and bring revival.

Lord, we need you. We look to you for help. Forgive us for our sins. We turn from our wicked ways, and we turn back to you. We thank you that you hear our desperate plea for help. Thank you that you forgive. We ask you to heal our world. We ask for a spiritual renewal, a great awakening. Lord bring revival. Start with me. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.