The church in Laodicea. The charge against this church and the consequences: “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” (3:15,16). Sort of a nothingness, huh? And sort of reminiscent of much “Christianity,” these days: not necessarily against God and the gospel but, also, not really with God nor with lives deeply enriched with the gospel. Not to get into politics and national intrigues but, several years ago, after 9/11, President George Bush issued the ultimatum: “You are either with us or against us.” A similarly sharp dividing line exists in regard to our Creator and us. We cannot just sort of love God, sort of follow him, sort of be committed to him.
And, so, a harsh word of warning to Laodicea and, also, to us. But there’s this, also, from the Lord: “Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent” (3:19). I find myself, once again, absolutely amazed at God’s patience and long-suffering toward us, toward me. The words of Gerhard Tersteegen:
God calling yet! I cannot stay;
My heart I yield without delay;
Vain world, farewell! from thee I part;
The voice of God hath reached my heart! --Gerhard Tersteegen (1625)
Comments