Lukewarm
Revelation 3:15-17
New International Version (NIV)
15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.
The dictionary defines lukewarm as showing or having little enthusiasm, interest, support, or conviction. Sadly I can use all of these words to describe my relationship with our Lord and Savior. Yes I confessed that He died for my sins and yes I know that He is the Son of God and no one can enter heaven except by believing in His Name. I can recite to you all of his miracles that He perform during His time on earth. I can speak to you about the Sermon on the Mount, His prayer in Gethsemane, and I can even discuss and attempt to decipher His parables. I can give you the bible’s chronicle of His life from the immaculate concept to the gruesome details of His crucifixion to Him rising on the third day and defending death and sin. Still I am lukewarm at best.
You see as I read Revelation chapter, as always I suggest you read the entire book, I well had a revelation. The more that I read the more I realized that the words written for the church of Laodicea were words that meant for me also. I am so caught up in my on life and my own progress, or lack thereof, that I have become lukewarm. God is now a secondary thought in my mind. I praise Him when something good happens, and I pray to Him will I need something or when I feeling depressed. Both of these things are the right thing to do, but what is missing is the constant praise and admiration, not because want He done or what he is going to do, but just because He is God.
Then is there is His commandment that He gave to all of his disciples, Go Forth and preach the Gospel to all of Creation. I cannot remember the last person, non-Christian, that I have talk to about the awesome power of Jesus Christ. I have missed so many opportunities because I was afraid to step outside of my comfort zone and tell someone about His Greatness. I lied to myself and said that people can tell by the way that I live my life, However in reality I know that this isn’t the case. I try to treat people the way that I want to be treated and I try to be a good and just person in all of my dealings, but that is not enough. Because we know sadly many good people may be left outside of the gates because they did not believe that Jesus was the Son of God. I have to tell people with my voice not only my actions, about all that God has done for me.
So after I read this scripture and went through the four steps of grief, Denial, Anger, Bargaining, and Depression. I finally made it to Acceptance and I realized that I was given this word to read so I can go from being lukewarm to hot and stay there. I also realized that as verse nineteen says He disciplines and rebukes those that He loves. This is why He is so Great, because through Jesus we have the chance to repent and turned from our wicked ways. Only a loving God would be so gracious and what a loving God we serve.
I know that there is a large gap between lukewarm and hot however I am committing myself to continue to grow towards my goal each and every day that I am blessed with. Because on His return I want him to say well done my good and faithful servant not because you are lukewarm- neither hot nor cold- I am about to spit you out of my mouth.
I do not know if you are in the same situation that I find myself in, but if you are I invite you to take this walk with me. We can support and comfort each other on this journey. Please leave your comments and your encouragement. You can email me at jamesanthonylove@gmail.com or find me on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/jamesanthonylove
God Bless,
James Anthony Love
