“And because lawlessness shall have been multiplied, the love of the many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end, that one will be kept safe. ” Matthew 24:12-13

The disciples had asked Jesus for the signs of His return. Jesus gave them a whole list of frightening and violent events that will happen. Then He told them that because of all the violence, hatred, deceptions, and so on, the love of many people would become cold.

There are two ways in which the love of many people can become cold.

1. Many people will lose their love for Jesus.

2. Many people will lose their love for each other.

If you have ever lived in a small town and watched it grow, you have seen crime increase along with the size of the town. As the crime increases, and as people begin to feel more crowded, the friendliness, and kindness of the people decreases. Eventually people ignore one another as a way of protecting themselves and also to close themselves off from all the noise and people around them, thereby creating the feeling of space and privacy. Our love for each other grows cold.

Just two days before writing this message, a horrific mass shooting took place at Virginia Tech University. The first reaction of people when something like this happens is to feel badly for the victims and the families of the victims. People will try to offer some kind of help to the victims. A second reaction is a one of a religious nature. Many people will start attending church again and try to understand how God fits in all this. At the same time there are others who turn away from God, either because they blame Him or they see the violence as proof He doesn't care or doesn't exist.

The third reaction is a boomerang effect. Security is heightened. People become more distrustful and suspicious. They will try to find their own personal ways of protecting themselves. Even those who started attending church will not trust God and eventually, when the trauma begins to wear off, they quit attending church and often ignore God. They ignore God because they either want to go back to the lifestyle they had before the violent event, or because they figure if God let that happen to other people, then He might let something horrific happen to them. So they're going to take care of themselves. They're going to protect themselves.

The truth is we will all suffer at some time in our lives. Jesus said things would get very difficult and frightening, but He also said, “The one who endures to the end, that one will be kept safe.” Other translations say “shall be saved.” The usages for the Greek word in this text are save, deliver, protect, heal, preserve, do well. Since Jesus said we would have trials and suffer, I have to believe the word usage here is that we will be delivered from it all when He comes back. Those who cling to Jesus, remain faithful in their trust, and continue to worship Him, will go through trials. But He will help them through the trials and when He comes back He will deliver us from all the sin in the world.

Don't let the events frighten you and cause you to let go. God is Lord of all. He is in control. There is a war going on - a war between good and evil. Jesus won the war over sin at the Cross, but the devil is still trying to take us all down with him. Just hang on to God and let Him finish up the battle.