John 5:35
He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing
for a season to rejoice in his light.
In the book of Matthew, in chapter 24, verse 12, it says,
"Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow
cold." These words were spoken by our Lord Jesus Christ as he
prophesied about the end times. It is a harsh reality, but it is an issue that
we must open our hearts and minds to understand and address. It is a warning, a
wake-up call, that as disciples of Christ we must heed.
The world today is brimming with uncertainty, chaos, and
deceit. There is an increase in moral decay, discord, and division. It can at
times seem as though darkness is overshadowing the light. And all too often, in
the face of such wickedness, the love within us does indeed grow cold and harden
like wax or ice. We become indifferent, desensitized, and even apathetic. It is
a chillingly easy trap to fall into, but we must resist.
We are Christians. We are followers of Christ, and we are
called to love as He loved us. Our saviour loved us with a love that was
compassionate and unfailing. It is a love that sacrificed, that forgave, that
held on even when it was easier to let go. Even on the cross, Jesus's love for
us did not wane. To the very end, He loved us. Can we not then strive to love
one another in the same way, regardless of the circumstances?
In the book of 1 Corinthians, Chapter 13, we are taught the
true nature of love. "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy,
it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not
self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does
not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always
trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails."
This is the love that we must nurture in our hearts, the
love that must never grow cold. It is a call to action, for each of us to be
vigilant about the state of our hearts. Remember, it is the coldness of love
that causes discord, hatred, and division. If you find your love growing cold, pray. Seek
the face of the Lord. Ask Him to rekindle the flame of love in your heart. Dive
deeper into His word, let the scriptures guide you and draw you closer to the
heart of the Father.
The first sign of cooling is becoming lukewarm or apathetic,
we are warned about this in Revelation 3:16 So then because thou art
lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Romans, Chapter 12,
verses 9-21, gives us practical advice on how to keep our love from growing
cold. He encourages us to, "Love sincerely. Hate what is evil; cling to
what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honour one another above
yourselves...Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer...Do
not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
Dear brothers and sisters, we are in this together. We are a
community, a body of believers, and we need each other's support,
encouragement, and prayers. Let us stand together in love, undeterred by the
wickedness around us. Let us not let our love grow cold, but let it burn
brightly, testifying to the love, grace, and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ. May
the love of God that surpasses all understanding fill your hearts and minds in
Christ Jesus and may His love never grow cold within you.