So many people sit on the fence today. They do not take a stance and are very easily swayed. They do not have any firm convictions and are governed by a behaviour of complacency; the ‘whatever!’ attitude. It is said that if you don’t stand for something, you will fall for anything.
A stern threat is issued to those who are lukewarm. Revelation 3:15-16 says, “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot: I would that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth.” This message was given in Revelation, the last book in the Bible, to the worst of the seven churches. The warning, ‘I will spew you out’ tell of the dreadful consequences that will fall on those who are lukewarm if they continue that way. However, if they repent of their ways, they can be saved from this calamity, as seen in verse 19; “Be zealous therefore and repent.”
Being lukewarm is a state of being neither cold nor hot. Like a cup of tea left to stand on the table too long, it becomes non-palatable. When someone is lukewarm, they are not decisive and anything goes. It is hard to know where you stand with such a person. Such people can be major stumbling blocks to others. It is as though their reasoning faculties have been dulled, as though they are being controlled by an outside force and cannot think for themselves.
Lukewarmness is seen as not being hot anymore. In the case of the Christian church it is referring to those people who were once zealous for God but have backslid. They lost their ‘first love’ and do things out of ritual and obligation. These people may appear religious but are they righteous? They have become spiritually dead! Such people are dangerous to follow because they lead you up the wrong path. Therefore the Bible says ‘I wish you were cold or hot’ because being lukewarm is contemptible in the sight of God.
To get out of that state of lukewarmness a person needs to first realize the state they have fallen into and repent from it. Matthew 3:2 says, “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” After that confession, one needs to turn direction and fully commit to moving up the spiritual barometer. Matthew 26:41 says, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.” We need to take note of our fallible human nature and seriously commit to not turn back to our past behaviour.
Nobody wants to find themselves in a situation where they are seen as vomit material. If you think lukewarmness has set into your life, stop dead in your tracks. Do not persist in your ways or you will find yourself on the path of devastation; God will spew you out. Turn direction immediately! Do something now if you don’t want to be regarded as ‘vomit’. ◊
Linda Pearl
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