Don’t Be Luke Warm

How hard is it to make a decision? How hard is it to accept challenges for the sake of pleasing our Lord God? Are there challenges you can’t simply put your 100% into?

The Bible speaks about lukewarm Christians in Revelations 3: 15-19 which say;

‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either cold or hot! So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of my mouth! Because you say, “I am rich and have acquired great wealth, and need nothing,” but do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked, take my advice and buy gold from me refined by fire so you can become rich! Buy from me white clothing so you can be clothed and your shameful nakedness will not be exposed, and buy eye salve to put on your eyes so you can see! All those I love, I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent!

These words are written to a church in Laodicea and they absolutely prick. God would prefer a cold Christianity than the sort He finds here would have sent upshots in Laodicea. The Christianity that seems to have plagued Laodicea is what we call ‘lukewarm’. The question is this, “If we are lukewarm, are we saved?”

So what does God wants? In Revelations 3:19, God says,

All those I love, I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent!

Laodicea was a textile town and a banking center which was moderately wealthy. They are playing safe about life because they think that what they’re doing as Christians were passable. The story of Laodicea is a something which we can relate to easily today. One in which we think we are rich and prosperous and need nothing but fail to realize that we are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind and naked. It is this type of Christianity that causes Jesus to say that he wants to spit him out of his mouth!

God’s counsel to us is in Revelations 3: 19 where he says to Laodicea and to us; ‘those whom I love, I rebuke and discipline. So be zealous and repent’. Lukewarm Christianity is one that has lost its sense of being zealous. Paul actually tells us in Romans something similar, ‘never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervour, serving the Lord’.

Even though Laodicea is lukewarm at this time, Jesus says that He still loves them that is why He rebukes them and gives them counsel to turn away from their lukewarm lifestyle. If Laodicea has a chance then comfortable Christians also do but they need to listen to the persuasive counsel of God. He is the one who has come to them and He stands and He knocks and he calls to them to listen. For the only cure for lukewarmness is to submit yourself to Christ.

Do not play safe. There is no gray area. It’s either you’re black or white, hot or cold. Always do your best because when the going gets tough, the tough gets going. Don’t wait until you experience having a difficult time dealing with the hardest challenges.

Let’s read Luke 9:23 and look into God’s call to discipleship.

Then he said to them all, “If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.”

For the things that we love, it’s either we do our best, or we choose not to do it. For anything we are passionate about, let’s do the same with God. All for His glory!

Application Questions:

Have I been an on-fire Christian?

What concrete steps can I do to improve and be more visible?