Either Cold or Hot (Rev. 3:14-22)

Either Cold or Hot (Rev. 3:14-22)

       
Are you cold or hot?
"I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of My mouth" (Revelation 3:16).

Jesus had a message for the church at Laodecia and for us today.
Who were the Laodiceans?
The city was famous for banking, cloth production and eye medicine.
The city Laodicea had lukewarm water which was mixture of two neighboring cities' cold and hot waters--that is, Colossae's hot spring water and Hierapolis' cold water. And, interestingly Jesus compared the city's lukewarm water with its church Christians' lukewarm faith.
Jesus said that they were neither cold nor hot.

They thought they were rich. But Jesus said they were: "Wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked" (17). (Though Laodicea was known for its banking, cloth production and eye medicine - Jesus said they were the opposite in their spiritual lives - poor, blind and naked.)

The church at Laodicea thought it was okay. They "worked" for the Lord. However, they were self-contented. Jesus remarked, "You say 'I am rich,' have become wealthy and have need of nothing, and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked" (17).

They had become "comfortable" with their lives.
They had enough money to live on, enough food to eat. Things were pretty good. But Jesus said that they were the opposite.

What happens in our lives when we become comfortable?
We tend to forget to call on God for our needs. It can happen to any of us. Slowly, slowly, we are spiritually lulled to sleep.
How do we keep from getting "comfortable"?
We need to keep on stepping out in faith with the Lord.
Are you settled and comfortable in your service for the Lord?
Have you ever asked the Lord to challenge you to stretch your faith?
Is there some way you can serve the Lord that stretches your faith?
Don't become too comfortable!
It is a dangerous position!
God's eternal reward is for those who are "good and faithful servants."

Jesus said to them, "Buy from me gold refined in the fire, white garments that you may be clothed. Anoint your eyes with eye salve - that you may see" (18).

Jesus says, "Be earnest and repent" (19).
The Laodicean church thought they were okay, but they did not realize that they were lukewarm in their love for the Lord.
They needed to repent of that.

Why does Jesus rebuke us?
Jesus rebukes us because he loves us very much.
Jesus says in verse 19: "I reprove and discipline those whom I love."
The world around us is trying to make parents feel guilty for punishing our children, but God's Word tells us many times that parents must make their children obey.

Jesus speaks to the church, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me" (20).
Notice that these words were spoken to the church.
It is possible for us in the church to think we are serving the Lord, but in actual fact we are lukewarm in our love for Him.

"To the one who conquers I will give a place with me on my throne, just as I myself conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne" (21).
Do you know how much the Lord wants to bless your lives?
Do you know what He has prepared for all who love Him?

Our Lord Jesus Christ wants us to be hot in our love and service for Him.
He cannot live with lukewarm Christians.
He will spit them out of his mouth.
Strong words to us!

If we have been lukewarm in our love for Jesus, there is a solution to this problem!
The solution is to ask for his forgiveness and get back on track with him.
"Be earnest and repent" (19).
If water cools off, it has to be reconnected with the source of heat so it can be hot again.
We need to "reconnect" with the Lord so we can remain on fire for Him.
Jesus Christ has promised to be with us and give us his Spirit to live for him as he wants us to do.