Revelation 3:15-17 (NLT)
“I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold.
I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water,
neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth! You
say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t
realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.”
There is debate about the true
interpretation of Revelation 2 and 3 and the seven letters to seven
churches. Three main views exist and
perhaps they all are true. First, these
are seven real churches and their conditions at the time John wrote Revelation. Second, the conditions of these churches are
directed to every church and every individual believer in every
generation. That is, the descriptions of
each of the seven churches are what exist at any time in the history of the
church, including today. Third, each
church represents the progression of the stages of the Christian church from
its beginning to today. Again, all three
perspectives are true.
The seventh church, the church of Laodicea,
is the subject of Revelation 3:14-22. The church of Laodicea represents the
church today. It is the church of the
last days prior to what is written in the rest of Revelation leading to the
Second Coming of Christ. What is the
main characteristic of today’s church according to the description of the
Laodicean Church? Lukewarmness. Complacency.
Apathy. Mediocrity. And what does Jesus think of today’s
church? Not much. In fact, of the seven churches, the church of
Laodicea is the only church that does not have words of commendation from the
Lord.
How does the Lord really feel about a
lukewarm commitment to Him? Review what
He says through John: (1) I wish you were one or the other; (2) if you are
lukewarm I spit you out of my mouth; and (3) your lukewarm commitment makes you
wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.
To say that the Lord hates lukewarmness might be an understatement. Just as many people find lukewarm beverages
the least appealing of all temperatures, God finds lukewarm believers the worst
kind of believer. Your tendency to spit
out a drink that you expected to be hot or cold…………so the Lord spits out
(removes from His presence) those who are lukewarm in their commitment to
Him.
Charles Stanley, in his book, Confronting
Casual Christianity (Broadman and Holdman, 1998), presents many examples of
lukewarm commitment (e.g. lack of moral and spiritual impact in others’ lives,
lack of biblical knowledge, lack of genuine prayer, lack of telling others
about Christ, and so many churches (and pastors) faltering because of lack of
financial and other support). Why? Stanley writes: “God’s people, most of them, have made
a decision about Jesus…..but have never made a commitment to Him”. And that lack of true commitment, after
making a decision to receive Jesus Christ as your Savior, is what the Lord
hates.
David
Wilkerson, pastor of a New York City church, said[1]: "God hates the lukewarm gospel of
half-truths that
is now spreading over the globe. This gospel says, 'Just believe in Jesus and
you'll be saved. There's nothing more to it.' It ignores the whole counsel of
God, which speaks of repenting from former sins, of taking up your cross, of
being conformed to the image of Christ by the refining work of the Holy Spirit.
It is totally silent about the reality of hell and an after-death
judgment."
Are you guilty of lukewarmness? A lukewarm Christian may actually be an
unsaved person who thinks he/she is saved.
If Revelation 3:14-22 is to be believed, then the church as a whole
today is lukewarm so there must be the majority of people who claim that they
are believers in Christ who also individually are lukewarm in what they do for
Christ. They want all the benefits of
Christianity (eternal life, peace, freedom from guilt, supernatural help with
life’s challenges and problems), but little to none of the responsibilities. Does this describe you? What a vulnerable, eternally dangerous
situation you are in if it does. Don’t
deceive yourself. Do something about
it. Either become hot for the Lord or
withdraw completely, don’t “straddle the fence”, don’t remain
half-committed. He hates that. Yet, He loves the person who recognizes his
sinful situation, confesses it, and works toward a rededicated life fully
committed to serving the Lord. What will
it take for you to be “hot”, to be fully committed to the Lord?
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