BY THE LATE ELDER B. E. ECHOLS

Jesus says in Matt. 24:12 according to Weymouth’s translation that “The LOVE of the GREAT MAJORITY will GROW COLD” at the time of the end of this age or just before His return to earth again. He also says
that the cause of same will be due to “The SPREAD of lawlessness” (Weymouth) or “The INCREASE of inquity”–Moffatt. We now see this cause and effect all around us and all over the world. Why should we
not take notice of it? Many Christians today are “Waxing cold” (A.V.) and are in the LUKEWARM state of the Laodicean Church. They are about ready to be SPUED OUT of God’s mouth (or church) instead of being caught up in the rapture. Yea they are in a poor blind miserable wretched and NAKED condition before God (Rev. 3:15-17)–they are not ready for death, His coming or the Judgment.

Growing Cold Defined

“Waxing cold” is that state of being neither cold or hot. It is the going from the latter to the former hot to cold and is spiritual lukewarmness until it reaches the backslidden state. If we should compare it with the natural physical condition that people sometimes get into when sick it would be about the same as those who become DELIRIOUS. It is almost impossible to arouse anyone or to get them to understand you when In such a condition. Naturally they are unconscious of what is going on around them. So it is with those who are GROWING COLD spiritually.

Lukewarm Christians In Pitiful And Dangerous Condition

The Lord’s message to the Laodiccan Church was “Because thou art lukewarm (growing cold), and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, ‘I am rich, and increased with goods
(gifts), and have need of nothing;’ and KNOWEST NOT (the condition of one who is delirious) that thou art WRETCHED, and POOR, and BLIND, and NAKED.” How awful. How pitiful! Well, this is the very condition that many of God’s people are in today. Their LOVE for God, His Word, His work, His people, etc., has GROWN COLD and many of them do NOT KNOW or realize it. They rather think that they are still in “good standing” with God. Oh Lord, awake and save them, ere they perish.

Scriptural Proof Of Love Dwindling

Jesus said, “If ye love me keep my commandments.” John also says, “This is the love of God, that we KEEP His commandments: and His commandments are not grievous.” Then if you and I are NOT keeping His commandments, we most assuredly are GROWING cold.. “And this commandment have we from
Him, that he who loveth God love his brother (in the Lord) also. If a man say, I love God, and HATETH his brother, he is a LIAR: for he that loveth NOT his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?”

Do we love our brothers and sisters in the Lord as we should or have we let old Satan Put hatred Into our hearts toward some of them? Jesus said, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have
LOVE one TO another.” I do not believe that organization, color, nationality, or anything else present or to come, will hinder or keep us from loving them unless the LOVE of God in our hearts has GROWN
COLD. The Bible does not teach us to love only the U.P.C. brethren, the Church of J.C. brethren, the I.M.A. brethren, the B.A. of W. brethren, the A.M.F. brethren, or anyone else; but it teaches us to have “Love
one TO another” regardless of organizational affiliation, etc. A difference is being made that God’s Word does not sanction (see Mark 9:38-42 with Luke g:49,50) and the Apostle James informs us, “If ye
have (shew) respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law AS TRANSGRESSORS.” If thus guilty, how dwelleth the love of God in US? Surely the love of God is dwindling or is altogether lacking.

Another sure sign of God’s love DWINDLING in the hearts of His people-is, their attitude toward money matters. For instance the evangelist, if he receives tithes from members of an assembly where there is a
pastor or church board and works principally for his own personal interest, there is a lack of God’s love in his heart (11 Corinthians 5:14). The same is true of pastors who are indifferent about the needs of the evangelist, or the visiting minister–whom he preaches. And what about ministers and church folk who endeavor to influence saints from other churches, to change their place of worship–for the financial
gain and numerical growth it would bring to them or their church? Such acts are proof that God’s love is growing cold in one’s heart and that we are living in the closing days of this dispensation. May God awake
such ministers and church folk to their need of getting “the LOVE OF GOD … SHED ABROAD (once more) in (their) hearts by the Holy Ghost.”

Other Symptoms Of Love Dwindling

The LOVE of some is known to be dwindling by their failing to read their Bibles and pray as they should. Others DO NOT attend church regularly as exhorted In Hebrews 10:25. Also, many are failing to pay
tithes and give offerings to support the work of the Lord. Oh you say, “Bro. Echols, I don’t think that money matters can affect anyone in a spiritual way!” Well I will not argue with you, but let us see what Brother Paul and some others have to say about it. ‘For the LOVE of  money is the ROOT of ALL evil (harm and wrong doing): which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith (or begun to GROW COLD in
the Lord), and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

But thou O man of God, Flee such things; things; and follow after righteousness godliness, LOVE’ (for God His people and cause). If one fails to go after these things as he should and gets his affections set on earning and hoarding money he is sure to GROW COLD in the LOVE of God. Ministers cannot please God and keep the love of God flowing ii? their hearts when they do the Lord’s work bidding for the dollar or
refuse to go unless they are assured SO MUCH money–say a thousand or two thousand dollars per month or during an evangelistic campaign. The money prospect seems to be the deciding factor these days.

Now on the other hand, How dwelleth the love of God in the laymember’s heart if he does not give tithes and of offerings to help support the local church the poor the missionaries home missions local and national radio broadcasts etc. –sponsored by his own local church or organization? Those who love the dollar until it prompts them to neglect to support such noble and worthy projects are very cold spiritually
speaking be they preachers or laymen. The love of God will even prompt people to give when they have to ignore their personal needs. Yea many like the widow who fed Elijah and the one who east the two mites into the treasury have sacrificed and given their all to God’s people and cause–when in great need of it themselves. It is this kind of giving that helps keep the fire of God burning brightly in one’s soul. See Acts
2:42-47 and 4:32-35. Oh hallelujah. Thank God for such an unspeakable gift LOVING to give as the Corinthian and Macedonian Christians were accustomed. I am persuaded that such is prompted by something more than human love.–Money matters are an “acid test” that will correctly register the love of God in one’s heart. See I John 3:17.

Another sign of “Crowing cold” is no desire for (he salvation of the lost and for Holy Ghost preaching–delivered with all sincerity and heavenly anointing. Some church folk prefer ministers who talk foolishly
joke and act in a way that tickles their ears instead of enlightening their souls. Very cold indeed are such saints and preachers who are turning their ears and hearts away from the truth unto fables (II Timothy 4:14). Paul says that these people “Shall wax (grow) worse and worse” in their evil ways and that they “Shall be lovers of their OWNSELVES covetous (all for self) … unthankful (which is proven by their giving sparingly to the cause of God–II Corinthians 9:6) unholy trucebreakers false accusers (troublemakers-amp. N. T.) fierce (uncontrolled and fierce–Amp.) traitors heady (determined to have their own way) high- (Mr. and Mrs. Know-it-ALL) lovers of pleasure (like to watch baseball anti football games–on T.V. or otherwise; go hunting, fishing and sight seeing on service nights and Sundays) having a FORM of Godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” You may not at all think that these scriptures refer to people that have once known God but they do! See II Timothy 4:3, 4 and II Peter 2:9-22.

These church programs which tend only to make a fair show of the flesh and entertain the natural man also cause God’s people to lose the Love of God out of their hearts (I John 2:13-17). Even singing which is
specialized and intended to entertain folk and demonstrate trained voices etc. is not pleasing to God. Those who enjoy such singing more than they do singing “In the Spirit” or singing done by Spirit-filled
and Spirit-inspired singers arc GROWING COLD in their love for that which is of God. For “God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him MUST worship Him IN SPIRIT and IN TRUTH (according to the Bible), for the
Father seeketh such to worship Him.”

Final Exhortations

Finally, let me exhort you to examine yourself by this message and please don’t overlook the fact that this is one of the outstanding signs of SOON coming and that the end of this age is at hand. It was given by Jesus in answer to the disciples’ question, as to what would be the sign of His coming and the end of the world. As translated by Weymouth, “The LOVE of the GREAT MAJORITY Will GROW COLD”– BEFORE Jesus
returns for His Church.

Yours to get more on fire for God and to stay that way, by His all- sufficient grace, so I will be ready for His coming at anytime. May God help each of you to do the same.

THE ABOVE MATERAIL WAS PUBLISHED BY THE LATE ELDER B. E. ECHOLS. THIS MATERIAL IS COPYRIGHTED AND MAY BE USED FOR STUDY & RESEARCH PURPOSES ONLY.