The love by many slow to show

Pastor Glen Golden
High Point Baptist Church
Pastor Glen Golden High Point Baptist Church

Consider with me the following descriptive words: cold, frozen, frostbite, breezy, frigid, icy, sleet, snow, below zero, winter. Are you ready now for a blanket or a cup of hot chocolate? As I write this article it is just a few days past the "big freeze" of the first week of January. I must confess that I am one of those people who like the changing seasons, including winter. However, after this past week I am at the point of saying, "OK, I'm good. Let's move on to Spring." I know many of you agree, but take a few moments to consider some other meanings the word COLD can have besides describing frigid temperatures.

COLD can also describe the condition of the human heart. Pick up a newspaper or magazine, turn on your TV, computer or smart phone to get the latest news and what do you find yourself asking? How about, "where is the love?" The Bible is not silent about the coming of such times:

"And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold." (Matthew 24:12)

"But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come. For men will be lovers of them-selves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God." (2 Timothy 3:1-4)

You may be thinking to yourself, "Thanks, pastor, for the update on what I already knew-people can be heartless and without love & compassion for others." Well, I am not trying to be the harbinger of gloom and doom; in fact quite the opposite. The Bible makes it quite clear that Jesus came bringing a love that can dispel the winter in a cold heart. Emotionally and spiritually we do not have to live out in the cold; Scripture makes this quite clear.

"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)

"This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." (John 15:12)

The warmth of God's love melts the cold heart. If we truly know God we not only know love, we show love. Those without God's saving love will dwell in the cold and gloom described above in Matthew and 2 Timothy. God calls us to come out of the cold and dwell in the Summer of His love. Who wants to stay out in the cold? I don't and I pray you don't either.