Often when we are exposed repeatedly to some outside factor, the tendency, over time, is to become calloused to it. The more frequently that we are influenced by the same event, the less likely we are to be affected by it in the future.
For example, the more that a person reads, sees and hears about the lawlessness going on presently in this world, the easier it becomes to turn a blind eye or deaf ear to it. For instance, there are over 40 conflicts/uprisings/insurgencies (however we choose to describe war) currently in motion; are we aware that the world is in such bad shape? What about the other atrocities that we are cognizant of through the media? Have we turned off because of the inundation?
Even more importantly, have we allowed the sins around us to diminish our need to re-examine our lives continuously and scrutinize every aspect of it thoroughly? In the covenant that we made with God at baptism, we committed to becoming righteous. We promised to seek first His ways and to pursue perfection (compare Matthew 6:33; 5:48; Hebrews 6:1). Are we doing this or are we just “getting by”?
There are many warnings in the Bible for the people of God in the end-time that show that we are not a foregone conclusion. In fact, just the opposite! Do statements like the following resonate with us: “… many are called but few are chosen,” “the love of many will grow cold,” and “you are neither cold nor hot”? Now is the time to be doing what we are supposed to be doing!
As prophecy falls into place and time grows short, we must be moved to action by the events that are going on around us. Let us sigh and cry and not become hardened through some systematic desensitization. But rather, let us distinguish ourselves in such a manner that when Christ returns He will have no problem recognizing us.
