FromNowUntilForeverBook8.5x5.5 REV.indd

Embrace those willing to join the faith— Spiritually speaking, the Titanic has rammed an iceberg and is taking on water. Thankfully, lifeboats are available to rescue the perishing.Even in a society in which hearts are hardening and love is waning, people remain reachable. There are still those hungry for the word, yearning to love and be loved. “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few” (Luke 10:2). “He who is wise wins souls” (Proverbs 11:30). Stephen Olford, a great preacher from a previous genera- tion, tells a story from his teenage years that illustrates a viable alternative to the love decline in modern society. Growing up on the mission field, he often sailed from the coast of Africa to Britain and back. On one of the journeys, a sailor became seriously ill with an infectious and deadly disease. The captain ordered that the sick man be placed on a mat at the stern of the ship, with the idea that when no one was looking, somebody would push him overboard. When Olford’s mother found out about the situation, she went to the captain and said, “I’m a missionary. I demand, in the name of my God and the Lord Jesus Christ whom I serve, that nothing be done to that man until I finish with him. If you act otherwise, I will report you.” She then cleaned the man, administered medication and prayed for him. As the days ticked by, the man got better.The sores began to heal and his eyes brightened. By the time the ship reached Portugal, he could stand on his own. Olford recalls the man hugging his moth- saying “She’s the only one in the world who loved me! ” That man became a believer and stayed in touch with the family for years. 8 Like fighting fire with fire, the only way to battle the love decline is with love. As Jesus said, “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35).

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