“Because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.”—Matthew 24:12

In the parable of the ten virgins, Jesus spoke of the oil that kept the flame burning in their lamps.That oil represents the presence of the Holy Spirit—sustained by love.

Christ warned us: difficult days would come.But His purpose in warning wasn’t to cause fear—it was to call us to preserve love,because love is the very fuel that keeps the fire of the Spirit alive.

When love departs, something else always takes its place—its opposite.And hear me now: you can’t borrow love from someone who’s lost it.

But if love has only fallen asleep, it can be awakened.And those are the wise virgins—the ones who kept their lamps burning,who preserved the flame through love.They were ready when the Bridegroom came.

In the time of harvest, everything returns to where it belongs:The wheat to the barns.The tares to the fire.And the love that once flowed through the church—the oil of the Spirit—will be taken from the earth, along with the Holy Spirit Himself.

When the Spirit departs, love will vanish.And when love vanishes, judgment falls.

That is why the earth and everything in it will be burned up—its achievements, its technology, its monuments and cities.All will be seen as worthless rubble in the eyes of God.

So what does Christian love look like in a world destined to perish?

It’s not about making this world more comfortable.It’s not about humbling ourselves to empower the arrogant.And it’s certainly not about becoming a useful fool in the hands of the prince of this world—who wants nothing more than to confuse you, distract you, and steal your love.

A Christian has one mission—to build the spiritual Kingdom of God.Every action, every word, every decision must reflect the living Christ within.

Jesus said,“The Kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’For indeed, the Kingdom of God is within you.”—Luke 17:20–21

So keep your lamp burning.Guard your oil.Fan the flame.And let the world see not just a believer—but a vessel of the living God.

Amen.