Revelation Letters VII
And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation. ‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, “I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing,” not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ (Revelation 3:14-22)
Lukewarm
“Lukewarm” is a strange word. It is a compound word, beginning with the “luke” part, which means tepid… or warm. The “warm” part means warm.
So the word literally means, ‘warm-warm.’
Warm would be bad enough, either for morning coffee, or ice cream.
But warm-warm… double warm… REALLY warm… is terribly bland, uncommitted (to temperature), and needs SOMETHING done to it: either more heat or more cold.
It is far too easy to slip into lukewarm-mode with our faith. We become so used to it. We become so complacent about it. We become so unenthusiastic about it. We become so bored with it.
Because we forget who Jesus really is for us. He is not just a friend who comes in and out of our lives from time to time. He is not a far-away divine meddler. He is not a fix or cure that we can take out when we have particular needs. He is not merely a line in a creed or profession of faith.
He is the shield standing between us and our deserved eternal death. He is our only comfort in life, and in death. He is the only completely reliable brother. He is the only person who actually understands us. He is the inventor of love. He is all powerful. He is all knowing. He is always present everywhere. He is ruling from heaven, and is the King of the Kingdom of God on earth. He is more than we can imagine, and the fulness of all knowledge.
He is nothing to be lukewarm about.