Matthew 24:12 [At the end of the age]… the love of many will grow cold. 

On Monday my son Josh and I sat together in the woods of Northern Pennsylvania hunting about a 1/2 mile south of the New York state border. It was early morning, dark and cold well before the sun was up. Wind gusts were driving a fine powdered snow in our faces. The sleety flakes were rushing down out of the sky and bouncing off our jackets as if in a hurry to join the inch of snow already on the ground. It was 26 degrees and totally dark. 

As we sat there motionless and waiting for the first dawn’s light it’s a great time for personal reflection. “What in the world am I doing out in the middle of nowhere at this hour and in this weather?” is always a good starting point; but my mind quickly wandered to family, home and loved ones- in a kind of free flowing conversation with God. 

Right about daylight the wind died down and things got incredibly still. The snow stopped falling, the birds were hushed, the woods was silent; it was as if everything was frozen in time and space; nothing was moving at all, except… for the cold. 

The first place I always notice cold is in my toes. How it sneaks past my pair of Ozark boots lined with Thinsulate and two pair of thick socks is a mystery to me, but it always does. There’s a tingling sensation and a slight burning as the cold takes hold. The easy solution to all of this would be to take a brisk walk or go inside the cabin and prop your feet by the wood stove, but this would kind of defeat the purpose of the hunt, so instead I stand still and try to wiggle my toes in a vain attempt to drive back the cold. 

On rare occasions I’ve been outside when it’s been brutally cold- 10 degrees, 7 or even below zero. Now THAT’S cold, especially if you are standing still. Given enough time and exposure, your feet go numb. The pain subsides into a dull throb. You stamp your feet but feel very little. Your extremities feel rubbery, desensitized, deadened. Then you know, it’s time to come in out of the cold. 

Scripture teaches that a mark of the last days is that people’s love will grow cold. They will no longer be moved by injustice or filled with compassion when they encounter need. They will no longer concern themselves with the things that God is passionate about- extending forgiveness, mercy or loving God or their neighbor. Instead they will simply be “lovers of themselves” (2 Timothy 3:1). This won’t happen all at once, of course, their love will grow cold. Like a penetrating chill that numbs and desensitizes, people will become more and more self focused and not even know it. 

Have you allowed your love to grow cold? Have you become cold and numb to the people around you or even to God himself? Warm yourself by the fire of God’s love. Find that God’s Spirit has filled you with an abundance of love that can be poured back out to God and others. 

It’s time to come in out of the cold.