08-26-2025 PART 1: Enduring Love in a Cold Age Matthew 24
Section 1
Jesus’ warning in Matthew 24:12 frames the moment: as sin multiplies, love cools from warm devotion to a frozen tundra. The message stresses that this chill isn’t random—it tracks with unchecked sin and disregard for God’s ways, showing up everywhere from family life to public interactions (even basic kindness in service roles). Discomfort with naming “sin” doesn’t change the diagnosis; Jesus named it plainly. The takeaway: discern the spiritual weather around you, recognize the creeping cold, and remember that Christian love is meant to stay warm even when the cultural climate turns frigid.
Section 2
Verse 13 calls believers to endurance: “those who endure to the end will be saved.” Far from a crutch, Christian faith involves real warfare—spiritual, emotional, social, even physical—and demands daily strength and armor. There’s no room for quitting or hiding our light; faith is not a one-and-done moment but a sustained, lifelong grip on Christ. The hope that fuels perseverance is eternal: heaven, the new earth, and life unbound by sin’s pull. Personal reflections on suffering and family loss emphasize that our faith asserts life beyond death—and that “stick-to-itiveness” is the proving ground of genuine belief.
Section 3
Finally, verse 14 simplifies eschatology around a clear priority: the gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed to all nations—and then the end will come. The kingdom’s good news is that God, not man, is in control; the power lies in the gospel itself (Romans 1:16), not in eloquence. Even a simple John 3:16 faithfully shared participates in God’s global plan; only He knows who the “last hearer” will be. Until then, Christians must stand firm amid growing hostility and colder nations, boldly declaring the truth no one can outbuild or outbid—because God is the builder, and Christ’s return will close history on His terms.