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Scripture Reading: Matthew 24

Jesus tells us many things that will happen as the time gets closer to His return.  Most of them I can’t do anything about:  famines, earthquakes, wars and rumors of war.

But there’s one thing Jesus mentions in Matthew chapter 24 that I can do:  don’t let my love grow cold.  Jesus says:

“Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved” (Matthew 24:12:13). 

I can see how our love could grow cold.  As the world approaches its grand finale, with rampant, widespread destruction, it would be easy to become embittered, frustrated, heartsick and fearful.  I can see how people could turn away from God, and turn away from each other.

But Jesus gives us the key to surviving those times.  And it’s really the key to surviving whatever we’re facing right now, too.  The key is this:  “Don’t let your love grow cold.”

When your love grows cold, the end really has come.  When your love grows cold, that’s the end of joy, the end of relationships, the end of happiness, the end of hope.  At all costs, whatever it takes, we need to keep our love alive.  Our love for God, and our love for others.

I was speaking to a group one time about what to do when people treat us poorly.  The answer, I suggested, was to “Love ’em more.”  What should we do when people run away from us?  “Love ’em more.”  What should we do when people break our hearts and disappoint us?  “Love ’em more.”

One of the people in the group came up to me the next day.  She said she loved that message on “Love me more.”  Whenever people would treat her poorly, she’d remind them that they’re supposed to “Love me more.”  She was joking, of course, having gotten the two key letters backwards, turning “em” into “me.”  It’s a minor change with major ramifications.  When things get rough in relationships, we expect others to “Love me more.”  But what God calls us to do is to “Love them more,” or as I put it, “Love ’em more.”

This is a message that we don’t have to wait to put into practice until the end of the world as we know it.  It’s a message that we can start practicing today, so when the end comes, we’ll be ready.  In fact, we’re closer to Jesus’ return today than ever before.  We’re not lacking in famines, earthquakes, wars and rumors of war.  If there’s a time to put our love into practice, we need to start “practicing” now.

None of us know when the day of His return will come.  Although there will be signs, it will come suddenly.  People will be eating and drinking as usual, marrying and giving in marriage up until that day.  “Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left” (Matthew 24:40-41). 

The grand finale of life will come upon us in an instant.  What can we do about it?  1)  Don’t be surprised when these things happen.   Jesus says, “but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come”  (Matthew 24:6b).  2)  Don’t let your love grow cold.

How can we keep our love from growing cold?  By fanning the flames of our love.

When people hurt you or mistreat you, “Love ’em more.” 

When people leave you or forsake you, “Love ’em more.” 

When people sin against you or hate you, “Love ’em more.” 

Just like Jesus did for us when people hurt and mistreated Him, left and forsook Him, sinned against and hated Him.  He just loved ’em more.

Even to the very end, the thing that will save the day will be love.  As wickedness increases all around us, we need to do what Jesus did :  “Love ’em more.”

Prayer: Father, help me to love others more, even as―and especially when―we see the end approaching.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.