Keeping Love from Growing Cold

            I have this thing about my driveway in the winter. I like to keep it really clean every time it snows. I scrape it clear to every edge. I try not to drive or step where I am about to shovel, because the compacted snow is always harder to scrape and lift and move than fresh snow. One reason for good clearing is that even the smallest amount of sunshine – even on a cold day – works well to heat the pavement and melt the little snow that remains. And after another short while, the pavement will be clear and dry. I know my mailman likes it that way as well.

            In Matthew 24 and 25 Jesus teaches about the end of the age and the many signs that will accompany it. Though there are different interpretive approaches among Christians to try to understand what Jesus said and how to apply it, there is one verse (24:12) that I think applies to most any time – past, present or future. In that verse Jesus says, “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.” Jesus is warning that Christians will live in difficult and challenging times. One characteristic of those times is that wickedness will be on the rise at all levels of life. That wickedness will have both a direct and indirect impact on those who claim to be His followers (“Christians”). There will be wickedness directed at Christians. And there will be wickedness that is more in the way of being a temptation to Christians. It will seek to draw them away from Christ. Jesus expects that wickedness to be so prevalent and so dominant that it will “freeze” any love that might be directed to Him. In other words, the hearts of many will become cold toward Him.

            I’ve always been surprised and intrigued by people who once claimed a burning love and passion for someone, yet who end up despising and hating the same person. I always wonder, “How could this happen? How can love that burned so hot grow so cold?” And it seems like this happens sometimes with people who claim to love Jesus so much. Jesus’ message in Matthew reminds us that we live in a “snowy” world (if I can put it that way). Temptation and wickedness “fall heavy” at times and seek to bury our hearts. Evil seeks to cover us up and “insulate/isolate” us from God’s love. We must be ever vigilant about it, and keep our hearts “clear” through confession of our sin and by making intentional choices to do away with wickedness “shovelful by shovelful” you might say. Unless we are watchful, wickedness will “pile up” on us. And one result of that is love for God growing cold. Isn’t that such a sad thing to see? And, even worse, to experience?

            Love is related to our will more than it is to our feelings. It is an action and a frame of reference that is chosen. We must be intentional about love (especially for God) because it is not automatically produced in us. Every time we choose Him rather than the wickedness that is so prevalent around us, our hearts respond to Him like the pavement to the sun. May our love for God not grow cold, even when wickedness around us is thick and heavy. May we turn from wickedness (even in all the small things in life) and cling to Him in love. We love because He first loved us. May everything else in our lives melt in the presence of His love and our response to Him. And may we be diligent in clearing away evil, so that our love will not grow cold.

Matthew 24:10-13 (NIV) ¹⁰ At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, ¹¹ and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. ¹² Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, ¹³ but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.

Proverbs 23:19 (NIV) ¹⁹ Listen, my son, and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path.

Joshua 22:5 (NIV) ⁵ But be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you: to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to obey his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and all your soul."

PRAYER: “Father, deliver us from evil and lead us to choose You in love day by day and moment by moment. Keep our eyes and hearts diligent so that we will not allow the wickedness around us to “bury” us and turn our hearts cold toward You. May we ever have a first love for You.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”