Revelation 3:15-16 NKJV
15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither [a]cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.
When you make a visit to the doctor for a medical check up, one of the things the doctor will check is your temperature. The human body is supposed to function within certain temperatures. Anything below or above that range alerts the doctor that something is wrong.
In talking to the church at Laodicea, Jesus says that he knows their works and that they are neither hot nor cold. He goes on to tell them that because they are lukewarm, he will spew them out of his mouth. Today, those who are hot are those who are fully engaged in the faith. They are not just hearers of the word, but they do what the word says. Their lives are focused on God and what he has directed them to do.
On the other hand, those who are cold are individuals who have given up on that faith, and they are not hiding it or pretending. These ones need to be revived, and you can tell that they need revival.
Luke warm people are dangerous people because you cannot place where they are. They are neither hot nor cold. They have been in church circles long enough, and thus they know the language and what is expected, but they are not fully engaged in it. Furthermore, they have a form of godliness but that’s about it. Not only that, but they are like the fig tree that Jesus cursed. They appear green and fruitful, but when you get close enough to them, you realize that they have no godly fruit in their lives.
A like warm person knows just enough about Jesus, they can sing the songs in church, they can shout amen, but they are not fully engaged in the things of God. They seem to be part of the church, but they comfortably fit in the world as well.
This is a real danger for people who have been in church circles for a long time. They assume they know everything and have done everything, meaning there is nothing new to learn. You get comfortable sitting back and not engaging. In fact, there is a real danger of you becoming very critical, thus drifting away from the faith and you don’t even know it.
So what’s you temperature? Jesus wants you hot for the gospel because there is work to be done.
Reflections
Do you just go through the motions of Christianity, or are you developing a deep relationship with God?
Have you become critical of how things are done in church? Are you always complaining?
What MUST you do to be on fire for God?
