Good morning!
“Be careful what you ask for because you just might get it.” The disciples may have wished they knew this little saying before they asked Jesus their question in Matthew 24.
As the time for Jesus’ crucifixion draws near, He is teaching his disciples on the Mount of Olives. He is encouraging them with the promise that though He is about to depart, He will return and take them to be with Him forever. That is certainly good news!
But that promise did not seem to be enough for the twelve, so they pulled Him aside and asked what signs should they be looking for before He returns.
Jesus’ answer was probably not what they expected. Basically, He says that MANY false teachers will lead MANY astray; there will be MANY natural disasters and wars; they will be persecuted and put to death for Jesus’ name; MANY will fall away and betray and hate each other; and ‘because lawlessness will be increased, the love of MANY will grow cold.’ (Matthew 24:12)
Wow… That sounds bleak. And frankly, that sounds familiar!
It is a chilling reality to think that MANY will fall away and have their love grow cold. I certainly don’t want to speculate as to the eternal spiritual condition of those who grow cold or who they might be, but I do know that we don’t have to be among that number!
The hopeful promise Jesus gives at the end of that list of ‘signs’ is “But the one who endures to the end will be saved” (Matthew 24:13). He doesn’t explain what that endurance means, but in the context I think He is reminding us that we must stoke the fires of our hearts through the power of the Spirit to produce a love for God that is ‘hot’ and will not be extinguished by the coldhearted secularism that closes in around us.
This is why the warning of Revelation 3:14-22 about lukewarm hearts is so necessary for Christians. We must not wait until our love is cold before we sound the alarm of our faith. We must be vigilant for even slightly tepid hearts so that we once again return to our first Love and allow the white-hot glory of his holiness and grace cleanse our hearts, fanning into flame the Love we knew at first.
Don’t be offended at the suggestion you might be lukewarm (For we ALL are lukewarm in some regard). Instead, be terrified that your heart may be cooling even one degree from your previous love for God. Those who endure to the end will be saved. And enduring in this day will require a mighty work of God to inflame our affections for Him alone.
Be on the lookout for the sin that abides so nearly, that pours cold water on your life promising refreshment only to have you find later that it was extinguishing your passion for Christ. He is the only source of the life-giving refreshment you seek. Go hard after Him today and He will faithfully lead you to the end where He will save you ultimately.
Blessings!
Pastor Chris
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