Have you noticed that it seems more difficult for people to agree on things and have positive comments about each other?

In many Western nations the political climate has become very contrary with politicians and their parties constantly emphasizing points of disagreement instead of the "common ground."

What has happened to our society? Many western nations came into prominence as Christian nations. That meant they respected the teachings of Jesus Christ and His apostles as they understood them. Among those basic teachings are things like loving your neighbor as yourself, not speaking evil of others, reconciling with our brother and loving even our enemies.

Christian virtues also include respect for the laws of God and man, being poor in spirit, meekness, patience, kindness and peacemaking. But today those western nations are as being "post Christian." The teachings of Jesus Christ are no longer respected as they once were. In fact, hostility towards them is growing. Secularism is on the rise. That means Christian virtues are out and along with them go respect for the law and other people. In some places in the western world it is now a criminal act to proclaim publicly what the Bible clearly teaches about morality (Romans 1:25-30).

We live in an increasingly lawless society. And, as Jesus foretold, that results in the love of many growing cold. The evidence is all around us. After explaining the love of many would grow cold, Jesus added: "But he who endures to the end shall be saved" (Matthew 24:13).

While the love of many grows cold, the disciples of Jesus Christ are to faithfully endure. Jesus was sent into the world when the children of Israel had strayed far from their covenant with God. They were about to be removed from the land. Peter called it a "perverse" (margin: "crooked") generation (Acts 2:40). And it was! Yet in the midst of that "perverse generation" God found faithful servants such as Mary, Joseph, John the Baptist, the twelve Apostles (with two alternates), Paul, Barnabas and many more.

Can God choose faithful servants while those around them grow increasingly lawless? Yes, He can! Think of Noah and Lot.

And today He has chosen us! While others abandon Christ's teachings, we must remain faithful to the end.

With these thoughts I wish us all a rewarding Sabbath!