From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 4:17

Dears in Christ,

When Christ spoke through his blessed Apostle John, in the book of Revelations, one of the direst warnings from Christ is for the church of Laodicea:- 

“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—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, As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.”

Lukewarmness in Christian spiritual life is a comfortable zone. It is risk-free, faith-free, and observatory. 

It is “Risk-Free” because I do not need to change my existing lifestyle to strive to attain the blessed promises seeing that I am already saved and believe in the death and resurrection of Christ and do not want to risk anything.

It is “Faith-free” because I have everything I need, and my prayers and actions do not have any element of faith in them. 

It is “Observatory” because I have become an observer of Christianity and the Holy Spirit, I do not want to go to the front line and participate in the supernatural faith-filled life. 

Lukewarmness addresses the issue of the heart, even in our deepest display of repentance, we do have a secret unfounded hope that we are after all good person. We are not bad after all. We pray, we go to church, we ask forgiveness for our sins, and we are alright. We are not like those radical Christians whom the bible says “Turned the world upside down” (Acts 17:6), but neither we break the Ten Commandments. This thought is an unchristian delusion.

Lukewarmness is a dangerous and terrible disease of Christian life. It is prone to affect all stages of the Christian life, especially those who have been Christians for a long time. It does away with the high requirement of Christianity made possible by the Holy Spirit to lead us to the narrow gate but makes an uneasy compromise with the flesh as it longingly looks into the dying embers of once-fiery promises given to him by God. The spark has died. Choked by the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of the riches. The gaze is turned away from God to the world. Spirituality is replaced by rationality. God – subsumed to practicalities and pragmatism. Holy Spirit, an accessory.

Lukewarmness also gives way to despair, hurt, and brokenness in our relationship with Christ. As the lover searches for her beloved after he is gone and is hurt by the watchmen. (Song of Solomon 5:5-8). We too may be hurt in our walk with Christ, the Church, and the Christian community when we are actually searching for Christ. We may have done nothing wrong but got hurt and sometimes alienated by people whom we supposed were our Christian guides, mentors, or friends. 

Despair is akin to a virus that eats away at our soul, without us realizing it. It is far easier to notice other losses. Jesus asks, “For what does it profit to gain the whole world and lose our own soul?” Despair is the imbalance and dissatisfaction in our soul with the vision God has given you and where your life currently is. A lukewarm person is dissatisfied and looks for tomorrow to improve his relationship with God. 

And to such lukewarmness, Christ offers us the remedy – Gold refined in Fire, White Garments, and Eye Salve.

Gold – refers to the Word of God, let us go back to the Word, let it heal you, Read the bible with fresh eyes, not with a jaded sense of duty. Ask Him to re-ignite the fire. Ask him to revive you with passion once again.

White Garments – refer to the righteousness of Christ. A righteousness that is underserved, given freely given to the worst of sinners purely by His mercy, that protects you from accusers’ accusations. 

Eye Salve – To see the preciousness and beauty of Christ, to see the price of that invaluable pearl for which we should be willing to sell everything to grasp it.

Finally – to the church that had its worst rebuke it had its loftiest promises. 

To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
Commentators write – “This crowning promise is made to the most unpleasing of the churches. If the condition of Laodicea was so bad, the struggle to overcome became proportionately greater, and, consequently, the reward the larger”

The promise to the Laodicean church is higher, loftier, and better than any other church. Christ knew that Laodiceans had a battle to face that was far more deadly than other churches because they were dead. They had to fight like Christ. They had to overcome like Christ. And because they will fight and overcome like Christ, they will sit with Christ on his throne. 

Sometimes, we try to fill our spiritual cisterns with just enough water to quench our thirsts and no more. If we have become like Laodiceans, with a Christianity that is neither hot nor cold, let us repent. The stakes are high – it is your soul. The promises for you are glorious. God is not finished with you. Turn the page, begin a new chapter with Holy Spirit holding the pen on the book of your life. Forget the past, run the race with renewed vigour. Strengthen the feeble arms and weak knees. (Hebrews 12:12). Remember your first love. Remember the first touch of God. 

Open that closed door of unforgiveness, hurt, bitterness, and shame. The locked door that is painful to think, process, to digest, that is “Access denied” for everyone. Christ is knocking on that door. He is not going to break you; he takes care even of bruised reed and flax that is going to burn out. How much more will he take care of you, the apple of his eyes? You do not need to live with that hurt; it was not intended for you to carry that bitterness. That addiction and sin that has tormented you, was already won over by your Christ. It does not have dominion over your body. You belong to him, when he signed up the love covenant with you, it covered everything in your life. No exceptions, no holds barred. 

Christ is your life, your life is hidden with Christ. (Colossians3:3-4)

We are called to set the world on fire and Christ wished that it was already burning. Away with lukewarmness in your relationship with Christ. 

The song – Spirit Touch your Church (Kent Henry) captures this image.

Lord, we need Your grace and mercy
We need to pray like never before
We need the power of Your Holy Spirit
To open heaven’s door

So, Spirit, touch Your church
Stir the hearts of men
Revive us, Lord
With Your passion once again
I want to care for others
Like Jesus cares for me
Let Your rain fall upon me

Lord, we humbly come before You
We don’t deserve of You what we ask
But we yearn to see Your glory
Restore this dying land

Spirit, touch Your Church
Stir the hearts of men
Revive us, Lord
With Your passion once again
I want to care for others
Like Jesus cares for me
Let Your rain fall upon me

The harvest is plenty, and the commission is big (Matthew 28:19) He still needs you. In this ninth hour, he still calls for workers to work in his vineyard. Forget what is behind, strain towards what is ahead for that inestimable goal to win the prize for which God had called you. (Philippians 3:13,14) 

Love him again with all your heart, mind, strength, and soul! Win souls for Christ this year.

Have a blessed new year.