“Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?” (John 6:70)
The spirit of Christ can discern a spirit of apostasy well before one officially leaves the faith. At the last supper, the disciples still did not know who would betray their Lord. They asked, “Is it I?” But Jesus had long known what was brewing in the heart of Judas. The heart had been well leavened before the act burst forth. At last it was time for the traitor to be known. “And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.” (John 13:27)
Discipleship begins when we start loving God more than ourselves. Apostasy begins when we resume loving ourselves more than God. Jesus prophesied in the last days, the love of many would wax cold. Paul foresaw that in these days men would love themselves more than God. Our age is characterized by a spirit of self-love. This spirit is nothing new though. Lucifer was all about the “I.”
“For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.” (Isaiah 14:13,14)
Self-love is the pre-eminent sign that apostasy is around the corner. Don’t be fooled by religious speech or church attendance. Judas was once deemed a solid follower of Christ.