“And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other . . . 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 24:10–13 (NLT).
While the earlier warnings by Christ pointed to those who would try to deceive believers, and to the hostility of the nations towards those who belong to Christ, the present focus is on the response of those who believe to the difficult times.
The instinctive response to difficulties is to find a way of escape. But when we run from the difficulties that define our loyalty to Christ, then it actually amounts to denying Christ and abandoning the faith. It was not long before the disciples, who heard those words, abandoned, denied and betrayed Christ in the hour of trial preceding His crucifixion – including boastful Peter!
In our day, this is so subtle that what we do is actually to repackage and pad the Christian message in a way to discard whatever might appear offensive or inconvenient. Then, we do what we are comfortable with – however abhorrent to Christ and Heaven’s standards. This is how it will end: “On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws,” (Matthew 7:22–23). Our constant prayer must be: “Keep me true, Lord Jesus, keep me true.”
Then we come to those dreadful words: “Betray and hate each other.” Family and friends are the most precious relationships of our lives. With them we feel safe to confide and to let our hairs down. We can afford to be vulnerable and tell them our dreams and fears and needs. We share happy times together. When people so dear become so treacherous for whatever reason, they leave deep wounds that sometimes never heal; leaving their victims destabilised. Healing is only by the mercy of God. King David expressed it: “Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me,” Psalm 41:9. The Lord Jesus also felt the terrible wound of betrayal when His disciple Judas tried to betray Him with a kiss!
The Lord Jesus Christ had said that Christian disciples are to be known by their love for each other (see John 13:34-35), and indeed that love for one another so distinguished the early Christians that it was even used against them. Love for God, love for fellow believers, and love for those who do not believe, has been the hallmark of Christianity through the ages. A clear sign of the end is that, this great virtue would be neglected and replaced with hatred. We live in days when betrayal and hatred from family members and friends is no more a strange thing. Indeed, even some pastors who should shepherd and shield their flock are now the vicious predators who have destroyed the lives they should nourish! One reason for this turn of event is stated by the Apostle Paul in 1 Timothy 6:10: “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.” These are days that call for perseverance in Christian commitment, whatever happens please look unto Jesus Christ for assurance.
• Most Rev (Dr.) Emmanuel A.S. Egbunu, Bishop of Lokoja Diocese
P.O. Box 11, Lokoja, Kogi State, 260001