Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you.  For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ’, and will deceive many.  You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed.  Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.  Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.  There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.  All these are the beginning of birth pains.”

Reading these verses is like watching the evening news.  Wars, rumors of wars, nation rising against nation, famines and earthquakes, wickedness increasing in our country and around the world – this is just the beginning.

vs. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.

Because of the grace and power of Christ, we can choose not to be the “most”. We can stand firm to the end, choosing righteousness over wickedness, love over hate, mercy over revenge, grace over grudges.  Lord, keep us close to you.