And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. (Matthew 24:12)
The only reason an abundance of iniquity would make anyone’s love for the Lord wax cold would be if they were not separated from that iniquity. Lot was a righteous man whose soul was vexed from day to day by hearing and seeing the unlawful deeds of the ungodly [simple_tooltip content='(for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)—’](2 Peter 2:8)[/simple_tooltip].
We have to deal with the world’s system and those in it, but we need to be careful and maintain proper distance. We should shun relationships with those who influence us negatively more than we influence them positively. Marriage is one area where this principle is especially true. There is no closer union in life than the marriage relationship. A believer who marries an unbeliever is directly violating Scripture and is toying with disaster [simple_tooltip content=’Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?’](2 Cor. 6:14)[/simple_tooltip]. The Lord should be the most important person in our lives. How could we possibly become one with a person who doesn’t love our Lord?
It is folly to think that after marriage an unbelieving spouse will accept the Lord. Although it does happen, it cannot be guaranteed. In fact, statistics are overwhelmingly against this happening. However, if you are in this situation and are believing God for your spouse to be saved, you must have the support of other believers in your church so you can stand strong and continue growing in the Lord yourself. You cannot allow your unbelieving spouse to keep you from growing spiritually. No one will benefit from you backsliding just to please your mate!
Being unequally yoked with unbelievers just doesn’t work. Believers and unbelievers are as different as righteousness and unrighteousness, light and dark, and Jesus and the devil. One has faith and the other has none. I hope you have avoided this if you are already married. If you are not married, decide today that you will not fall for this deception.