Revelation 3:14-15 And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot.”
The church of Laodicea
The Amen, the faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God. The beginning of this tells us much about Jesus. It answers so many false teachings about Jesus. But the church of Laodiceans is the topic for today. The lukewarm church. Laodicea was known for its banking and textile industry. It was especially known for its black wool production. In 60 A.D. it was struck by a devastating earthquake and the city had to be rebuilt.
Why was the church lukewarm?
We have a level of wealth in America today amongst many, not just a few. If you pay attention to the talk, you will hear people saying the level of comfort they trust in because of their wealth. This was the problem with the church of Laodicea. They trusted in their wealth and loved their comfort. There was so much complacency that nothing was being accomplished.
Stagnant water is water that does not move. It starts to stink and collect bacteria. This is the picture of this church. If you put stagnant water in your mouth, you will vomit. Jesus was saying this about this church. It was not hot nor cold; it was stagnant and it made Him want to vomit. He wished it were hot so He could praise them, or cold so He could give them warnings, but the environment was so complacent it made Him sick.
How do we avoid being like this church?
Revelation 3:18 “I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.” Repent. Seek the things of the Lord. Seek repentance then forgiveness. Be passionate about your faith. Love God with all your heart.
Fence straddlers are a prime example; they put one foot on the side of sin but also put one foot in righteousness. They are not hot nor cold. The world is not better nor worse off with their presence. This is harsh, but it is reality. You can choose heaven or you can choose hell. The choice is ours. But fence straddlers want both worlds, and this makes Jesus sick.
Key Takeaways
- The church of Laodicea, described as lukewarm, reflects complacency rooted in wealth and comfort.
- Jesus criticizes the church for being stagnant like foul water, preferring hot or cold over indifference.
- To avoid this fate, believers should seek repentance, prioritize their faith, and love God passionately.
- Fence straddlers embody a lack of commitment, living between sin and righteousness; this greatly displeases Jesus.
- Ultimately, the choice between heaven and hell rests with individuals, making decisive faith crucial.
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