Dear church neither ice cold nor hot
But lukewarm and so deceived
Let true riches from Christ be sought
And white garments be received
Anoint your eyes, Heed His counsel
Draw near to the Lord again
Those He loves He will discipline
So be zealous – from sin turn
Jesus knocks now – go let Him in
True fellowship with Him learn
And we will be, Always with Him
Draw near to the Lord again
To the tune of “Lo! He Comes with Clouds Descending”
O Church – consider your blessings
We have a powerful King
And a history of keeping
His Word and persevering
Let us trust Him, And proclaim Him
Hold fast to our Savior’s name
The blessing of vindication
And the riches of His love
From God’s wrath a great salvation
We will dwell with God above
Let us trust Him, Rest in His love
Draw near to our God above
A glor-i-ous belonging see
Jesus writes on us God’s name
Citizens of God’s great city
He claims us with His new name
Come remember, Who you are now
Church – consider your blessings
To the tune of “Lo! He Comes with Clouds Descending”
You look alive but you’re faking
Your good works are sore lacking
Worldly compromise you’re making
Sin has stained all your clothing
Jesus warns us, Come and repent
You need an awakening!
Stir the embers and fan the flames
Look to Jesus – come alive
Strengthen what little yet remains
Deep into the gospel dive
Come remember, And live it out
Find life in Jesus again
To the tune of “Lo! He Comes with Clouds Descending”
I have come to like coffee – when it is hot. Lukewarm coffee makes me want to, well, spew it back out.
Have you ever thought about what happens when someone orders coffee at a restaurant? The coffee comes hot from the pot. But it doesn’t take too long for it to start to cool off, to get lukewarm. So what does the waitress do? If she is good, she comes by regularly to pour more hot coffee into the cup so the coffee in the cup stays hot.
We are the cup of coffee. Jesus is the pot. If we stay away from Jesus too long, we cool off, we get lukewarm. We need to regularly draw near to him, let him “fill” us, so that we might stay hot.
So how is our cup? Hot? Or have we stayed away from the pot too long? Does Jesus want to, well, spew us out of his mouth?
“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.” – Revelation 3:15-16
In Revelation 3:14-22, Jesus addresses a sick church. The Creator of the world gives a certain and true diagnosis, and faithful counsel for needed healing. His words were originally directed at the church of Laodicea. Might his words describe our churches? Might his words describe us?
The church is sick because they are lukewarm. A nearby city was known for its cold water, another for its hot springs. Laodicea was known for its lukewarm water. Unwary visitors were known to take a drink only to spit it back out. Their water was a picture of their spiritual condition. They had not coldly rejected Christ. Nor were they fervently serving Christ. They were lukewarm, indifferent, apathetic, comfortable. And Christ wants to spew them out. How well does that describe our churches? How well does it describe us?
The church is sick because they have a faulty perception of themselves. Laodicea was a wealthy city and relatively self-sufficient. The church thought they were rich and needed nothing – but they were deluded. Christ says they are wretched and pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. Do we see ourselves as rich, or as sinners saved by grace? Do we think we can manage the Christian life on our own, or do we recognize our need of help?
Christ’s counsel first addresses the second problem. He calls them to look to him. They need to acknowledge their spiritual poverty and give up their spiritual self-sufficiency. Laodicea was a wealthy city, but the church needed to look to Christ for true spiritual wealth – for all the spiritual blessings that flow from Christ. Laodicea had a textile industry specializing in black wool, but the church needed to look to Christ that they might be clothed in white garments – good deeds flowing from God’s grace. Laodicea was known as a medical center with a focus on the eyes, but the church needed to look to Christ that they might see themselves as God sees them. Are we looking to Christ?
Christ’s counsel continues – moving to the first problem. They must repent of their lukewarmness. Though Jesus gags on their lukewarm condition, he still loves them. He will not allow them to continue living in sin; he will lovingly discipline them. They must repent – turn from their apathy and be zealous for him. How? They cannot do it on their own, they must again look to Christ. He is knocking at the door of their hearts. He wants to come in and fellowship with them. In that fellowship, their hearts will be warmed that they might be zealous for Christ. Do we need to repent? Has our relationship with Christ grown distant? Do we need to open the door again and draw near that we might again be zealous for Christ?
To those who overcome, he promises that we will reign with him. May we hear what the Spirit says to us in these verses.
Winter is quickly coming and with it comes the cold. Soon my wood stove will be full of burning wood to keep our home warm. The wood stove is in the living room. My office is the farthest room away. While the living room stays nice and warm, my office is more lukewarm – even chilly. After an hour or two in my office, I often go out to the living room to fellowship with the wood stove. I’ll stand next to it and let its warmth warm me.
The Christian life is much like this. On our own, away from Jesus, we grow chilly. No longer hot, on fire for Christ, we grow lukewarm, indifferent, apathetic. Our greatest need is to fellowship with Jesus. As we spend time with the Lord, he makes us hot again. He gives us a hunger and desire for him. He makes us fervent in spirit. He fills us with passion for God and compassion for people.
Have you grown a bit chilly, kind of lukewarm? Is it time to draw near again that he might make you hot?
“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you” (James 4:8).
“…you are lukewarm….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” (Revelation 3:16-20)
Brian J. Mikul 