Vienna, Austria. Or Wien, Österreich, as the natives call this place. Got here Friday. From the frying pan into the freezer, one might say. Going from Texas to Austria felt like that yesterday. It’s a wintry 32°F here. Frigid. As usual, my luggage, with my winter stuff, didn’t arrive till the day after I got here! And so here I am unprotected, for the most part, and all that unwelcome white stuff is lying around, messing up the place, turning gray and unappetizing, getting in your shoes, drenching your socks. You can keep the snowballs. Gimme heat! And sweat! The real macho stuff.
This cold isn’t for me. Sub-zero. Slushy and sleety. Before I knew it, winter had arrived, or, rather, I had arrived in winter. And no means at hand to tackle those dreadfully dreary degrees and dismal days.
In a discussion with His disciples in Matthew 24–25, Jesus warns them to watch out for dangerous times and frigid temperatures. Be prepared, he exhorted.
All kinds of things, He alerted them, will be on the horizon towards the last days, as time draws to its end, as days wrap up their incessant movements, as Jesus prepares to return. Watch out. But many will be misled and succumb to devices and stratagems of the evil one to draw people away from the knowledge of God.
What a sad chapter in human history. And temperatures, figuratively at least, will plummet.
I’m struck that we are warned of our love dissipating. Not that our faith would flag or our hope evaporate. Instead, the lulling of love. But we have been warned. Believers who, placing their trust in Christ have become the children of God, are to be prepared and alert and unsurprised; the last days are upon us, this final phase of earth’s history is imminent.
We are to be alert in doing what we are supposed to be doing. Will our love become frozen? Our care for each other clammy, and concern for our fellow-believers chilled? Our community ice-capped? The church a glacier? It is not without reason that the writer of Hebrews urges us to …
The end cometh. Watch out. Stay on the alert. Be prepared. Don’t be caught unawares. Let’s our love be warm, genuine, and fervent, unlike that of those whom Jesus described at the end of Matthew 25 with these incriminating accusations.
Stay away from the cold!
This cold isn’t for me. Sub-zero. Slushy and sleety. Before I knew it, winter had arrived, or, rather, I had arrived in winter. And no means at hand to tackle those dreadfully dreary degrees and dismal days.
In a discussion with His disciples in Matthew 24–25, Jesus warns them to watch out for dangerous times and frigid temperatures. Be prepared, he exhorted.
“Watch out ….
See that
you are not frightened ….”
Matthew 24:4–6
See that
you are not frightened ….”
Matthew 24:4–6
All kinds of things, He alerted them, will be on the horizon towards the last days, as time draws to its end, as days wrap up their incessant movements, as Jesus prepares to return. Watch out. But many will be misled and succumb to devices and stratagems of the evil one to draw people away from the knowledge of God.
“At that time
many will fall away
and will betray one another
and hate one another.”
Matthew 24:10
many will fall away
and will betray one another
and hate one another.”
Matthew 24:10
What a sad chapter in human history. And temperatures, figuratively at least, will plummet.
“Because lawlessness is increased,
most people's love will grow cold.”
Matthew 24:12
most people's love will grow cold.”
Matthew 24:12
I’m struck that we are warned of our love dissipating. Not that our faith would flag or our hope evaporate. Instead, the lulling of love. But we have been warned. Believers who, placing their trust in Christ have become the children of God, are to be prepared and alert and unsurprised; the last days are upon us, this final phase of earth’s history is imminent.
“For this reason
you also must be ready;
for the Son of Man is coming
at an hour when
you do not think He will.”
Matthew 24:44
you also must be ready;
for the Son of Man is coming
at an hour when
you do not think He will.”
Matthew 24:44
We are to be alert in doing what we are supposed to be doing. Will our love become frozen? Our care for each other clammy, and concern for our fellow-believers chilled? Our community ice-capped? The church a glacier? It is not without reason that the writer of Hebrews urges us to …
… consider how to stimulate
one another to love
and good deeds,
not forsaking
our own assembling together,
as is the habit of some,
but encouraging one another;
and all the more as you see
the day drawing near.
Hebrews 10:24–25
one another to love
and good deeds,
not forsaking
our own assembling together,
as is the habit of some,
but encouraging one another;
and all the more as you see
the day drawing near.
Hebrews 10:24–25
The end cometh. Watch out. Stay on the alert. Be prepared. Don’t be caught unawares. Let’s our love be warm, genuine, and fervent, unlike that of those whom Jesus described at the end of Matthew 25 with these incriminating accusations.
“I was hungry,
and you gave Me nothing
to eat;
I was thirsty,
and you gave Me nothing
to drink;
I was a stranger,
and you did not invite Me in;
naked, and you did not
clothe Me;
sick, and in prison,
and you did not visit Me. …
Truly I say to you,
to the extent that
you did not do it
to one of the least of these,
you did not do it to Me.”
Matthew 25:42–45
and you gave Me nothing
to eat;
I was thirsty,
and you gave Me nothing
to drink;
I was a stranger,
and you did not invite Me in;
naked, and you did not
clothe Me;
sick, and in prison,
and you did not visit Me. …
Truly I say to you,
to the extent that
you did not do it
to one of the least of these,
you did not do it to Me.”
Matthew 25:42–45
Stay away from the cold!
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