Guarding Against Spiritual Coldness: Lessons from Haggai and Matthew 24
Big Idea:
Abiding in Christ shields our spiritual temperature
In the sacred garden of Eden, amidst the beauty of God's creation, Eve found herself in the presence of a cunning serpent. This seemingly harmless encounter would set in motion a series of events that have echoed throughout history. It was a moment when Eve's relationship with God was at its weakest, a moment when God seemed distant. In this blog post, we will explore the profound message of the prophet Haggai and the words of Jesus in Matthew 24 to understand how a weak relationship with God and fear can lead to self-preservation and ultimately self-reliance, causing our spiritual lives to grow cold.
The Serpent's Deception
The serpent approached Eve not in the presence of God but in a moment of vulnerability when her connection with God was weak. He used fear to sow doubt in her mind, making her believe that she was missing out on something and causing her to question God's command. Fear led to a desire for self-preservation, and Eve, relying on her own wisdom, took a bite of the forbidden fruit. This story illustrates how a weakened relationship with God and fear can lead to self-reliance.
Lessons from Exodus
The Israelites in the time of Moses faced a similar challenge. When Moses ascended Mount Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments, fear and weak faith among the people led them to self-preservation. They approached Aaron, asking him to help them build a golden calf, effectively creating their own god—an act of self-reliance. This demonstrates how a lack of a strong relationship with God and fear can breed self-preservation and self-reliance.
Modern-Day Example: The Church in 2020
In March of 2020, many churches temporarily closed their doors to protect their communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. While this was an act of love and support, it weakened the relationships within the church. Fear of illness and death settled in, and with weakened relationships and fear, Satan found fertile ground for his attacks. People started leaning toward self-preservation and self-reliance. The Church, like Eve and the Israelites of old, faced a crisis of weakened faith and fear.
Who Was Haggai?
Haggai is a relatively obscure figure in the Bible, but his significance is profound. We know little about his personal life, but he was undoubtedly called by God. His name, which means "The Feast," hints at a special calling. Haggai's role was clear: he was a prophet of God, commissioned by Him to deliver a crucial message.
Haggai's Message to Israel
Upon their return to Jerusalem, the Israelites were filled with excitement, as they believed they were witnessing the fulfillment of God's promise to bring them back to their land. They even set up an altar where the temple was supposed to be, offering sacrifices in gratitude. However, Haggai pointed out a critical issue—a disconnect in their relationship with God.
Haggai emphasized that God wasn't merely the One who brought them back to Jerusalem; He was their Sovereign God, and Israel was His chosen people. This special relationship meant that they should have been entirely dependent on God. Instead, a weak relationship and fear had bred an attitude of self-preservation and self-reliance.
For seventeen years, the people failed to build the temple. Their love for God had grown cold. This pattern of weakened faith and self-reliance repeats itself throughout history.
Parallels in Matthew 24:10-14
In Matthew 24, Jesus prophesied about the end times. He highlighted that people's behavior would change significantly before His return. This prophecy contains striking similarities to the situations in Eden, Moses' time, and Haggai's era:
Many will be offended, betray one another, and hate one another—reflecting a lack of relationships and struggles with others.
False prophets will deceive many, leading them to trust themselves instead of God.
Lawlessness will abound, indicating self-reliance as people disregard authority.
As a consequence, the love of many will grow cold. A weak relationship with God and fear will lead to self-preservation and self-reliance, ultimately causing spiritual coldness.
Enduring in Christ: Shielding Our Spiritual Temperature
Jesus offers a solution in Matthew 24:13-14: "But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come."
To avoid growing spiritually cold, we must endure in the Gospel, remaining steadfast in our love for God and others. This endurance means remaining, abiding, and persevering in our faith. It means trusting God rather than relying on ourselves for self-preservation and self-reliance.
Examples of Endurance in the Bible
Hebrews 12:2 tells us that Jesus endured the cross, despising the shame, for our salvation. We are called to consider Him who endured such hostility. James 1:12 promises a crown of life to those who endure temptation.
Conclusion: Pursuing Christ and His Glory
In summary, Haggai's message to Israel and Jesus' prophecy in Matthew 24 warn us about the dangers of weakened relationships with God, fear, self-preservation, and self-reliance, which lead to spiritual coldness. We are encouraged to endure in Christ, abiding in Him and trusting Him rather than relying on ourselves.
In our modern world, where fear and self-reliance often take root, we must strive to keep our spiritual temperature warm by passionately pursuing Christ and His glory. We should foster our relationships with God and His people and rely on God's strength rather than our own. Let us heed the call to endure, for in doing so, we find salvation and keep the flame of love burning brightly in our hearts.
Encouragement for Today
Hebrews 10:24-25 reminds us of the importance of gathering together, stirring one another to love and good works, especially as we see the Day of the Lord drawing near. Together, in strong relationships with God and fellow believers, we can guard against spiritual coldness and persevere in our faith, ultimately fulfilling our calling to glorify God.
What similarities do you see between the stories of Eve in the garden, the Israelites during Moses' time, and the Church in 2020 in terms of weak relationships with God and fear leading to self-preservation and self-reliance?
How can we identify areas in our lives where our relationship with God might be weakening, and fear may be creeping in? What are some common signs?
What practical steps can we take to prevent self-preservation and self-reliance from taking over in our spiritual lives?
How does the concept of "enduring in Christ" resonate with you personally? What does it mean to endure in your faith?
Can you share any personal experiences when fear or self-preservation impacted your spiritual life? How did you overcome it?
Reflect on Hebrews 10:24-25. How has gathering together with other believers positively impacted your spiritual journey? How can we encourage one another more effectively?
In what ways can we actively pursue Christ and His glory in our daily lives to keep our spiritual temperature warm? Share practical ideas and personal commitments.
