07/01/2015 HOT, COLD AND LUKEWARM
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.