By F. D. Adkins
I am a cold-natured person with absolutely no tolerance for frigid temperatures, so if I know I am going to be somewhere I could get cold, I wear layers and pack blankets, gloves, a hat, and anything else I can think of that might eliminate the agony. On the other hand, my children cannot stand to be hot. And now that they are teens, the summer months seem to be an endless battle when it comes to the thermostat. However, if the temperature is at a comfortable level for our body, we think nothing of it.
In Revelation 3:14-21, Jesus finishes His messages to the churches by addressing the church in Laodicea. To say the least, Jesus is not pleased with this church. In fact, in so many words, He says this church makes Him sick. “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth” (Revelation 3:14-15 KJV).
He would prefer them to either have true faith and follow Him diligently or not proclaim to be His followers at all. But it sickens Him that they are saying they are rich in faith when they are not. The problem is that they are oblivious to their spiritual temperature. Jesus says, “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked” (Revelation 3:17 KJV).
As I illustrated in my example at the beginning of this post, if one is hot or cold, that person is aware of it. In the same way, if one is truly a follower of Christ, one will desire to study the Bible and live by God’s Word. That person will want to spend time with the Savior and grow closer to Him. That person will produce spiritual fruit and be passionate about sharing the Gospel and the love of Jesus. However, if one is not a believer in Christ, that person is fully aware that Jesus is not in his or her life.
The church members in Laodicea are not aware of their spiritual temperature because, as Jesus said in verse 15, they are “lukewarm”. They are in this so-called comfort zone, convinced that they are right with God while living their lives as they please.
So, why are Jesus’s words to them so harsh and reprimanding? Why is he sending them this warning? The answer is in Revelation 3:19 where Jesus explains, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.” Jesus reprimands those that he loves. He does not want anyone to be separated from Him. In fact, the very next verse details the close and personal relationship that He desires with each and every person. He says, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” To share a meal with someone means to have a one-on-one interaction and conversation. He wants to come into our lives, and He wants us to know Him personally. But we have to let Him in. And if we sincerely ask Him in, we should no longer desire to live according to the ways of the world. 2 Corinthians 5:17 details, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (KJV). And Romans 12:2, as followers of Christ, we are given these instructions: “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (KJV).
As we reflect on our spiritual temperature, I pray that our reading is high and that we are truly on fire for Jesus. I am closing with these words of Jesus because as I read this scripture and dug into its meaning, this is the verse that scrolled through my mind.
Jesus said, “He that is not with me is against me…” Matthew 12:30 KJV
