Jesus’s letter to the Laodicean church as dictated to the Apostle John contains a succinct warning that should concern modern-day Christians. “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.” (Revelation 3:15-16). Unfortunately, “lukewarm” describes a huge portion of todays “Christians”. They are content to go to church on Sunday, participate in some Christian activities, giving their friends and relatives the impression that they are sincere believers. But actually, they see church more as a social gathering where they can be entertained and meet their friends. They see church as a place where their kids can learn moral truths, where they or their offspring can get married, and where their old folks can be memorialized in a funeral. Their Pastor’s sermons probably pass over their heads, as they are mostly biblically illiterate. Regular bible study is not their forte. They shun real Christians who are sincere in their faith and love to discuss the bible and all things spiritual. They do not have a deep personal relationship with their Savior, Jesus, and are therefore oblivious to the spiritual events happening all around them. These people are in real trouble. They are being deceived by the enemy into thinking they will be OK in eternity. In reality, in their lukewarmness, Jesus said He would “vomit” them out of His mouth.
If any of the above descriptions of lukewarm Christianity describes you, it’s time to fire up! Time to seriously read and study your bible-renew your mind with God’s word so that you can find God’s will for your life. Time to pray and ask the Author of life to help you conform to His image. Time to leave the world behind and seek real fellowship with friends knowledgeable in the scriptures who aren’t afraid to share that knowledge with you. Time to grow up toward spiritual maturity so that you can be assured of your inheritance in the coming kingdom of our Lord. Time to allow God’s Spirit to kindle that fire in you so that you can become a mighty warrior for Jesus in the difficult days just ahead. The rewards are staggering!
Jesus followed up in His letter to the lukewarm Laodiceans: “As many as I love I rebuke and chasten. Therefore, be zealous and repent. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” (Revelation 3:19, 21). Become zealous and repent-that’s the antidote for lukewarmness. Imagine for a moment the result. We can sit with Jesus on His throne! Not the Fathers throne where Jesus now sits at His Fathers right hand, but Jesus’s earthly throne in Jerusalem when He returns. Yes, we will rule and reign with Him on this earth. Are you ready for that immense responsibility? Your choice, Christian. Reign with Him on His throne or be vomited out from His kingdom. There is no place for a lukewarm Christian. Fire up!
Maranatha, Jim
The Church is a body that expels undesirables. These are ex-christians that were once believers but have become unbelievers. Organized they are part of the enemy, Jesus has already spewed them out, and they stink. All those He has not vomited out, he loves and will continue to rebuke and chasten throughout the millennium. I think you are a little hard on those that go to Church for the reasons you mentioned. Most Christians are lukewarm, myself included, hopefully the pot is getting warmer, not colder. That is repentance, an increasing temperature.
From four-part sermon series: Oh, Those Statistics! “I would submit that perhaps today the Laodicean church model may be the greatest contributor to the decline of professing Christianity.”