“...Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” (Matthew 24:12–13, NLT)
The above scripture that I have prayerfully considered for the meditation today holds a warning for all those who desire to be faithful. This scripture contains the words of Jesus about times of suffering, when sinful people attack faithful people, when sin spreads throughout a region or area. It will be like the end times spoken of in the book of Revelation, when the faithful are attacked by evil, encouraged to act worldly, tempted to compromise with the devil.
Amid times of suffering, Jesus saw that “sin will be rampant everywhere” (Matthew 24:12). You will not be able to escape it. Sin will directly affect your life, tainting your worldview, eating away at your peace. In these dark times, one important aspect of the faith will “grow cold”… love. Where sin becomes predominant, godly love is abandoned by many. Godly love grows cold. It dies. Faithful people become rare and more precious. Worldly people will multiply. Evil will take over whole groups, bringing spiritual darkness and eroding away all joy. Suffering will impact everything and everyone.
In evil times of suffering, there will be those who stand out. They will be the ones who “endure to the end” (Matthew 24:13). These people will not be tainted by the world. They will remain faithful to God. Their love for others and for God will not grow cold or lessen. They will be a shining light of God’s love in the midst of dark times. Have you ever met someone whose love should have grown cold, but it would not? Have you ever witnessed a love that endured despite suffering or pain?
In the Bible, there is mention of many whose faith and love stood fast despite sin and suffering and evil.
Noah built the ark to save all those who chose God as well as the animals needed to repopulate the earth. The entire time he built the ark, people made fun of Noah, derided him, belittled him. He remained faithful. God wanted desperately to save humanity from the coming flood, keeping the door of the ark open until the very last second before the flood waters overtook the sinful land.
Joseph saved the family of Jacob and all Egypt from drought. Moses was there to protect Israel during the Exodus. Queen Esther saved the godly during the reign of King Ahasuerus. Elijah saved a widow’s only son. On and on throughout scripture there is mention of those who stood against evil and suffering using God’s light and God’s love. It only takes one faithful person to alter the trajectory of a sinful world. It takes those willing to keep God’s love alive when dark times threaten to envelop all hope.
“An orphaned boy was living with his grandmother when their house caught fire. The grandmother, trying to get upstairs to rescue the boy, perished in the flames. The boy’s cries for help were finally answered by a man who climbed an iron drainpipe and came back down with the boy hanging tightly to his neck.
Several weeks later, a public hearing was held to determine who would receive custody of the child. A farmer, a teacher, and the town’s wealthiest citizen all gave the reasons they felt they should be chosen to give the boy a home. But as they talked, the lad’s eyes remained focused on the floor. Then a stranger walked to the front and slowly took his hands from his pockets, revealing severe scars on them. As the crowd gasped, the boy cried out in recognition. This was the man who had saved his life. His hands had been burned when he climbed the hot pipe. With a leap the boy threw his arms around the man’s neck and held on for dear life. The other men silently walked away, leaving the boy and his rescuer alone. Those marred hands had settled the issue.” (from “Our Daily Bread”, December 26, as spoken by Leslie B. Flynn, reprinted in 10,000 Sermon Illustrations).
Love caused that man to risk his life for a boy. Love caused that boy to hold on dearly to the man who saved him. Love changed everything for the boy, the man, and the community.
There is another, whose scarred hands brought love to many… Jesus. Those nail-pierced hands that were once nailed to the cross continue to remind you that love is a great antidote to the sinful darkness of this world. God’s love conquers all. When suffering abounds, hold onto God’s love. When people are hurting, show kindness and love. When the darkness of evil threatens, shine the light of God’s love all around.
You are God’s undercover agent in this world. Don’t let God’s love in you ever grow cold. Let God’s light shine through you in places of darkness and hopelessness. Be God’s agent of righteousness.
The scripture for today from Matthew 24 ends with hope. In it, Jesus revealed that those whose love for God and others endures “will be saved” (Matthew 24:13). God has saved you time and time again. Soon, God will provide a place for you in Heaven. Jesus promised; where love endures, salvation awaits.
Amid times of suffering, Jesus saw that “sin will be rampant everywhere” (Matthew 24:12). You will not be able to escape it. Sin will directly affect your life, tainting your worldview, eating away at your peace. In these dark times, one important aspect of the faith will “grow cold”… love. Where sin becomes predominant, godly love is abandoned by many. Godly love grows cold. It dies. Faithful people become rare and more precious. Worldly people will multiply. Evil will take over whole groups, bringing spiritual darkness and eroding away all joy. Suffering will impact everything and everyone.
In evil times of suffering, there will be those who stand out. They will be the ones who “endure to the end” (Matthew 24:13). These people will not be tainted by the world. They will remain faithful to God. Their love for others and for God will not grow cold or lessen. They will be a shining light of God’s love in the midst of dark times. Have you ever met someone whose love should have grown cold, but it would not? Have you ever witnessed a love that endured despite suffering or pain?
In the Bible, there is mention of many whose faith and love stood fast despite sin and suffering and evil.
Noah built the ark to save all those who chose God as well as the animals needed to repopulate the earth. The entire time he built the ark, people made fun of Noah, derided him, belittled him. He remained faithful. God wanted desperately to save humanity from the coming flood, keeping the door of the ark open until the very last second before the flood waters overtook the sinful land.
Joseph saved the family of Jacob and all Egypt from drought. Moses was there to protect Israel during the Exodus. Queen Esther saved the godly during the reign of King Ahasuerus. Elijah saved a widow’s only son. On and on throughout scripture there is mention of those who stood against evil and suffering using God’s light and God’s love. It only takes one faithful person to alter the trajectory of a sinful world. It takes those willing to keep God’s love alive when dark times threaten to envelop all hope.
“An orphaned boy was living with his grandmother when their house caught fire. The grandmother, trying to get upstairs to rescue the boy, perished in the flames. The boy’s cries for help were finally answered by a man who climbed an iron drainpipe and came back down with the boy hanging tightly to his neck.
Several weeks later, a public hearing was held to determine who would receive custody of the child. A farmer, a teacher, and the town’s wealthiest citizen all gave the reasons they felt they should be chosen to give the boy a home. But as they talked, the lad’s eyes remained focused on the floor. Then a stranger walked to the front and slowly took his hands from his pockets, revealing severe scars on them. As the crowd gasped, the boy cried out in recognition. This was the man who had saved his life. His hands had been burned when he climbed the hot pipe. With a leap the boy threw his arms around the man’s neck and held on for dear life. The other men silently walked away, leaving the boy and his rescuer alone. Those marred hands had settled the issue.” (from “Our Daily Bread”, December 26, as spoken by Leslie B. Flynn, reprinted in 10,000 Sermon Illustrations).
Love caused that man to risk his life for a boy. Love caused that boy to hold on dearly to the man who saved him. Love changed everything for the boy, the man, and the community.
There is another, whose scarred hands brought love to many… Jesus. Those nail-pierced hands that were once nailed to the cross continue to remind you that love is a great antidote to the sinful darkness of this world. God’s love conquers all. When suffering abounds, hold onto God’s love. When people are hurting, show kindness and love. When the darkness of evil threatens, shine the light of God’s love all around.
You are God’s undercover agent in this world. Don’t let God’s love in you ever grow cold. Let God’s light shine through you in places of darkness and hopelessness. Be God’s agent of righteousness.
The scripture for today from Matthew 24 ends with hope. In it, Jesus revealed that those whose love for God and others endures “will be saved” (Matthew 24:13). God has saved you time and time again. Soon, God will provide a place for you in Heaven. Jesus promised; where love endures, salvation awaits.