14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm — neither hot nor cold — I am about to spit you out of my mouth. Amen
A young man read the scripture above and immediately became alarmed. In his thoughts, this is how frank the Lord has been with us. You either became hot or cold; lukewarm was not acceptable. So since his many attempts to be “HOT” proved futile, and lukewarm is forbidden, he decided to be honest with himself and the Lord by living cold (ie the way he pleased).
He would rather womanize, drink, steal and have fun than be lukewarm for the MASTER TO SPIT HIM OUT. The question is, in a case where even the lukewarm do not stand a chance, how can we even assume that being cold is an option to consider?
The young man wanted to be honest with his desires so he chose to be cold. What He failed to realise is that there are consequences for being “hot” or “cold” and very soon those effects would start catching up with him.
When the Lord said ” I wish you were either one or the other (ie hot or cold), He didn’t mean it was ok for us to comfortably choose any, and not the best.
The Lord said to the Israelites through Moses “19 This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to His voice, and hold fast to Him. For the Lord is YOUR LIFE, and He will give you many years in the land He swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” (Deut 30: 19- 20)
So tell all who choose to live to please themselves but the Lord that that is as unacceptable as being lukewarm, probably worse.
The Lord made us for His good will and pleasure. We are the sheep of His pasture, we are not our own. So even though we have a free will to decide whether to be “Hot” or “Cold”, wisdom compels us to choose the Lord, and live. IT IS BY GRACE WE ARE SAVED, NOT OUR WORKS.
Let us then offer all our days to the Lord. To live for Him and no one else. His love bids us, His blood will cleanse us, His Spirit strengthens and guides us. We have no excuse to lurk about in “lukewarmness” or “coldness”.
Do not be like this young man who decided to be honest with the Lord by living for his own pleasure. He may have the privilege of options today, but will have eternity to deal with the consequences of his choice. Proverbs 16: 25 says “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death”.
Begin to pray now. Simply choose God and live.
