Where Did Our Love Go?
Our lives are shaped to a great degree by the things we love. As I have become more experienced (ahem), I have noticed in myself a deepening love for some things and a cooling interest in others. I’m one of those possessing a cautious expectation of emotions, and the degree to which I am affected has been the matter of some debate. I do love (and deeply), but the zeal and strength are not the same for some things as in days gone by. In some ways, it’s natural.
The way we feel about things is shaped by the events of our lives and the climate of our times.
National and world events occasionally produce outrage spurring people to action. While reformation is sometimes the result, the more common occurance is general grousing followed by grudging acceptance. When we accept things as the way they are, there is often no longer any energy or desire to return to a former way of operation. We may have fond memories and wistful thoughts, but that’s about it.
The Scripture calls this “love going cold.” This happens to most people with regard to God and clean living as the world in general becomes more sinful. After awhile, we just accept sin as the way things are, and that does something to our love for God. Now, sin has always been around in all its forms, but the degree to which people are able to commit sin and the accessibility of wickedness has not always been the same. There have always been murders, but there have not always been automatic weapons. So, you see the problem.
The old-time preacher, Vance Havner, called it “getting used to the dark.” When you go into a darkened room, you can’t see anything. Soon, however, your eyes adjust, and you can make things out to a good degree. It’s not any lighter, you just got used to it. And it’s happening all the time. We’re getting used to the dark, and our love for God and goodness is fading. When it happens gradually (over a lifetime), we hardly even resist. Is it any wonder we have such difficulty?
Love is a strong thing, but it is also a fragile thing. It will not survive without nurture. We gain and lose it gradually. May the day be slow in coming, indeed, never arrive when our love for God is gone, and we don’t remember how or when.
Sterl
« Go back