Hot, Cold Or Lukewarm!
"So then, because you are lukewarm,
and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit
you out of My mouth."
Revelation 3: 16
When we ponder this verse, we’re faced with a dilemma. Why is
being lukewarm worse than being cold? We can understand how
our fervor for Christ should be hot. But if we’re not yet on fire for
Him, isn’t it still better to be warmhearted than to be coldhearted?
The notes in the Jeremiah Study Bible help us
here.
There were three towns in close proximity: Hierapolis,
famous for its hot springs, Colossae with its freshly-fed
streams; and Laodicea with its piped-in water.
The JSB says, “In this verse, both hot and cold
are good
things. To first-century readers, they were not measures
of spiritual temperature but of vitality and usefulness.
The water from hot springs of Hierapolis was useful for
healing and restoration. The cold water at Colossae was
refreshing to drink and quenched people’s thirst. But the
water that reached Laodicea was distasteful and
unsatisfying” (page 1844).
The Lord wants us to be cold—that is, refreshing and
thirst-quenching. He wants us to be hot—therapeutic
and useful. But may we never be lukewarm for Christ!
"Slow down. Do not get in a rush.
Take the needed time to think upon the
Scriptures. It will set your life on fire."
Ronnie Floyd
