Revelation 3:14, 15-16 To the Church in Laodicea…These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of GOD’s creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm---neither hot nor cold---I am about to spit you out of my mouth.
[New International Translation]
Summary
The book of Revelations was written to the seven churches in the province of Asia: the church at Ephesus, the church in Smyrna, the church in Pergamum, the church in Thyatria, the church in Sardis, the church in Philadelphia, and the church in Laodicea. Revelation 3:14-16 is a message to the church in Laodicea.
Laodicea was a rich church---its members affluent. Some commentaries suggest that this church, with its riches might have been too self-reliant, which may have explained their indifference and lack of zeal. As a result they received one of the sharpest criticisms of all the churches. They were neither burning with passion, fervent in spirit or “hot;” nor were they openly antagonistic and “cold.” They were just indifferent and “lukewarm.” This “hot, cold, lukewarm” analogy must have struck a chord with the Laodicea church, since they had experienced a problem with distasteful lukewarm water for years. Although the Laodiceans built aqueducts to bring the delicious cold water down from the mountains; unfortunately, by the time the water traveled through the mountains, it was lukewarm and sickening. Although they had wonderful hot steaming springs, by the time the water traveled to the city, it was again, just lukewarm. Laodicea had the kind of lukewarm water that made you want to throw up.
The apostle Peter was passionate in words, but his fear caused him to deny Christ three times. However, with all of Peter’s shortcomings, GOD was still able to use him and his passion. Before his conversion, Saul had an intense hatred of Christians and zealously sought to persecute them, even going so far as to obtain a letter from the Jewish church so that he could travel to other regions and kill them. Yet with all his faults, GOD was able to use Saul and his passion. After Saul’s conversion on the Damascus road, he became a “new man” (Paul) and became just as passionate about following JESUS CHRIST.
The most striking example of passion is the PASSION of JESUS*, who was so passionate in HIS love for humanity that HE, GOD who had all power in HIS hands, willingly allowed those hands to be nailed to a cross where they openly bled. Although HE committed no crimes, HIS passionate love for all of us was so great, HE allowed HIMSELF to be numbered among the criminals being crucified that day. HE, the SON of GOD, suffered the indignity of being stripped of HIS clothing and was placed on display, even before HIS own mother. In the end, HE willingly gave up HIS SPIRIT, to defeat death, to save me and you. HIS PASSION, HIS LOVE was that great!
Unlike Peter and Saul, the Laodiceans had no passion. They were “middle of the road,” people—just standing on the sidelines. Their lack of passion, in the face of all HE had done for them, was an affront to our LORD and made HIM want to “spew” them out of HIS mouth.
Cold Water During Exercise
In an article, “Is Drinking Cold Water During or After Exercise Good or Bad?” Wendy Bumgardener’s responses is:
Believe it or not, cold water is absorbed faster by your body than water at room temperature or at body temperature. The American College of Sports Medicine recommends that water and other drinks be chilled when used for exercise.
She states:
Research has shown that cold water passes through the stomach faster and is therefore sent to the intestines for quicker absorption. During and after exercise, you want to rapidly replace fluids lost due to sweat, so cold water and cold sports drinks are preferred.
She notes that most people find that cold drinks taste better and therefore people drink longer. Following some of the guidelines recommended in the January, 1996 position paper on “Exercise and Hydration,” Bumgardener also has the following recommendation:
Cold: Drinks should be cooler than room temperature.
Flavored: Drinks should be flavored to make them taste more appealing, helping people to drink more. A squeeze of lemon juice or a pinch of a flavoring can help without adding calories.
Sports Drinks: Use a sports drink to replace carbohydrates and electrolytes when exercising longer than 1 hour.
Plain Water: If exercising less than an hour, plain water is just fine, maybe with a squeeze of lemon juice or other flavoring if preferred for taste.
Drink to Thirst: Updated guidelines in 2006 caution endurance runners and walkers that overdrinking can cause hyponatremia, so exercisers should use thirst as their guide rather than forcing fluids.
Benefits of Drinking Water
- Water Maintains The Body: Our bodies are composed of approximately 60% water. A number of our bodily functions require water including: digestion; the creation of saliva, kidney function; bladder/urinary function, temperature maintenance, etc. An important reason for drinking water is to promote bowel movement. Water simply helps keep things moving along---through the gastrointestinal tract, preventing constipation.
- Water May Help Control Calories: Most water (e.g. bottled water without the additives). Water helps you stay hydrated when you exercise and tends to boost the metabolism. If you select plain water instead of a sweetened beverage, you will reduce your caloric intake. It just simple math. 0 calories in water vs. 150 calories contained in an average can of soda sweetened with sugar.
- Drinking Water Helps Skin Tone: According to H.H. Mitchell, Journal of Biological Chemistry 158, the brain and heart are composed of about 73% water, the lungs are about 83% water and the skin contains about 64% water. Even bones contain water---about 31%. See, http://water.usgs.gov/edu/propertyyou.html.
Dehydration tends to make skin look dry and wrinkled. One of the reasons people purchase moisturizers is to try to lock in moisture. Drinking an adequate amount of water promotes healthier skin.
Find The Passion!
We have to fight indifference and complacency---even about our own physical and spiritual health and the health of our community. But to fight, to take action---we have to find the passion! We have to find the passion to actually exercise and to reject “harmful foods.” We have to become so passionate about the health of our families and children in our communities that we have to be a “role model.”
We also have to become passionate about social and economic injustices----the high murder rates of young men and women in our cities, gun violence, sex trafficking, homeless men and women begging for food on the streets, the lack of prison re-entry programs and the like. We must become so passionate that we can’t help but “do something.” We (not someone else) have to become the agents for the change we want to see.
So, today, reject Laodicea citizenship!
Today, take a good cold drink for good health.
Be proactive about your own physical and spiritual health. Be passionate and Be Blessed!
*The word “passion” comes from the old French word “passion” meaning “strength in feeling.” Later the “Passion of CHRIST,” came to mean “the suffering of JESUS,” from the Garden of Gethsemane to the cross.
