Don’t let your love grow cold!
Western Culture in Upheaval
To say that Western society is in upheaval would be the understatement of the decade. Identity politics, wars threatening global stability, economic uncertainty, institutional distrust, rising violence, and the massive upending of cultural norms regarding sexual identity—it’s enough to make anyone despair. Fear, anxiety, confusion, disillusionment, and hopelessness seem to rule the hearts and minds of both old and young.
As a church leader, I’ve witnessed that Christians are not immune. Our hearts can become cold, calloused, and disappointed as anti-God agendas advance. We ask: Where is God? Why isn’t He doing something? Don’t You have the power? Where is Your promise to put all things right?
I have struggled with these questions too. But I believe I’ve discovered truths that can help us maintain a sound mind and stable heart amid calamity.
The Root of Cold Hearts
While studying Matthew 24—Jesus’ “End of the Age discourse”—one verse captured my attention: “And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.” 1 Lawlessness emerges when society determines that either there is no Law-giver or that He is irrelevant. When people disregard God’s laws designed for human flourishing and become a law unto themselves, chaos and confusion ensue. The very calamities Jesus outlined begin to
manifest.
The critical question becomes: What can we do to prevent our hearts from growing cold? 2
Two End Time Loves
I believe the Lord has provided an antidote to cold-heartedness through what I call the two End Time Loves. As we experience them, we can mitigate the danger of our love growing cold.
The First End Time Love: The Father’s Affection
The Holy Spirit has been helping us receive the love of God as a Loving Father in an experiential way. When we understand in our core being that we are fully accepted—that the Father sees us as holy, without blame and free from accusation right now—our identity becomes rooted in Him rather than in what we do, have, or what others say about us.
Paul writes in Ephesians: “In love He [Father] predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.” 3 Father God determined that you and I belong in His family as favored sons and daughters, just like Jesus. He lavished this gift upon us not because we deserved it, but because He wanted to.
This liberating truth frees us from the prison of a false self-image. Fear of what others think, fear of failure, fear of rejection—these fall away as we emerge into the security of being God’s beloved. The dissenting voices, within and without, fade in their impact on our self-esteem. We see ourselves and others with a grace-filled gaze.
The Second End Time Love: Passionate Devotion to Jesus
The second End Time love is a burning, fiery passion for our Bridegroom King. This is when we are regularly overwhelmed by the immensity of Jesus’ love that compelled Him to make the ultimate sacrifice for us.
On the cross, Jesus absorbed all the ugly sins of the world—yours and mine. He became sin for us, though He Himself is the spotless Lamb without stain or blemish. God determined to treat Jesus as though He were treating us; He gave Jesus what we deserved. Conversely, the Father can now treat us as though He were treating Jesus. We receive what Jesus deserves.
Paul reminds us: “For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.” 4 When this truth touches our hearts, we are overwhelmed by the oceanic immensity of His love.
Five Practical Ways to Keep Your Love Red Hot
1. Practice His Presence
Include Jesus in every aspect of your day—at work, at the gym, in the grocery store. Carve out time to adore Him in privacy. When you miss the mark, simply confess, repent, and start again. God sees and rewards those who diligently seek Him.
2. Keep Short Accounts with God
The Lord is calling for holiness as He prepares for His second coming. Be quick to confess sin, repent, and ask for forgiveness. Find someone mature to whom you can confess. If you’re stuck, seek Spirit-led prayer ministers and counselors who can help heal your heart. And don’t just confess the bad—declare who God says you are!
3. Read God’s Word Personally
Don’t make others’ teachings your only source of spiritual nutrition. Jesus said, “My words are spirit and they are life.” You don’t need to understand everything. Simply read it—it will change you in ways you might not realize until others remark upon it. Study a gospel, one of Paul’s letters, or 1 John. Let Scripture reshape you.
4. Hang Around Like-Minded Believers
There is no substitute for accountable, regular relationships with people pursuing God. “Do not forsake the assembly; spur one another on to love and good deeds.” Choose your friends wisely, for you choose your destiny. Gathering with fellow believers pursuing Jesus is not negotiable.
5. Start Taking Risks with God
Listen to His voice, journal, and act in obedience. Build your personal history with God by praying for people’s healing, offering prophetic words, or words of knowledge. There’s nothing like seeing God use you to ignite your relationship with Him.
Conclusion
I am confident that as we implement these practices in our pursuit of God, even if the hearts of many around us grow cold, ours will not. As we continually receive the Father’s love and love Jesus with laid down lives, our hearts will stay red hot with fiery passionate love for our Bridegroom King. We will be the powerful, whole, and humble world changers we were always destined to be.
