LUKEWARM

While doing my quiet time just now, I had this urge in my heart to share about the issue on Christians being "lukewarm". Lukewarm is neither hot nor cold. In the book of Revelations, God spoke to the Christians in Laodice who are neither hot nor cold:

I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm - neither hot nor cold - I am about to spit you out of my mouth. (Rev 3:15 - 16)

When are Christians lukewarm?

a. They call themselves Christians, but they think that they can automatically get into Heaven by just showing up in church for cell group or church services and going through the motions.

b. Instead of fervently learning what God has to teach them through the sermons or sharings, they start talking to their friends next to them, doing their own things, indulge in their own entertainment or fantasies, dozing off in their seats.

c. They don't give their best to worship God and seek Him wholeheartedly, they thought these are just another pure sing-song sessions or follow through the motion because "other people are singing". They may end up doing their own things and waste their opportunities to worship the God who loves them so much.

d. They are either too lazy or too scared to try to discover what God has planned for them in their lives ... the sort of person who thinks having an "I Love Jesus" bumper sticker and wearing a cross necklace are good enough for eternal salvation.

e. They call on God when they bump into problems and blame God when He does not do what they expect Him to do. And when everything turns out well, they just simply put God aside.

f. They find that reading God's words and spending time with God is totally pure rubbish or a waste of time. Watching TV, reading their favorite story books, surfing the Internet or playing computer, or even sports activities are more exciting than God's words or quiet time. They fail to walk with Christ daily in their lives.

g. They call themselves Christians but they do not reflect the Christ-like characters in their lives, in school - they do not reach out to fellow friends who are in need, they do not share about Christ to fellow friends who may just perish from the face of the earth before the sun rises again, they use words which are not edifying to fellow friends and pleasing to God's ears...

h. They have sins hidden in their hearts and they think that God won't know a single thing if they keep quiet and hence failed to repent. But, they never realise that God already knew every single sin, including sins they are not aware of themselves, in the deepest realm of their hearts.

And the list goes on .....

God hates lukewarm Christians, they are a total disgust to Him. He would rather have someone who is totally cold (so that He can still have a chance to break you up and whip you up to be hot) or totally hot and on fire for Him. Rev 3:15-16 says it all and these are His words.

God has also said similar verses in relation to lukewarmness -

"The axe is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire"(Luke 3:9)

"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men." (Matthew 5:13)

The question I pose to you now is - are you a Lukewarm Christian ? Do you see yourself fall into ANY ONE of the category above? Be honest about it, be transparent with yourself and ask yourself these questions truthfully.

If your answer is yes, you can do these:

1. Repent before God, ask for His forgiveness. As long as one confesses and repents, He will be quick to forgive.
2. Make a commitment before God that you will be a Christian who will be ON FIRE for Him, and ask Him to help you along.
3. Start by doing quiet time and reading His words everyday. Just set aside 15 minutes daily for a start if you have not done it at all.
4. Help your friends who are in need with whatever you can, encourage them when they are down, use words which are edifying to the people around you (words that honours God).
5. If you know you have sinned against God, quickly confess and repent before God with a sincere heart. He will hear you and forgive you.

If you can, don't become COLD and have to go through the pain of being whipped up by God when you already HAVE the opportunity to be HOT for Him NOW.

But if you are already ON FIRE for Him, then keep up the good work and continue to be ON FIRE for Him always.

There is no such thing as you are ON FIRE for God some days, and you cool down on other days ... that is considered as lukewarm.

Remember, God is not someone whom you can just simply take Him for a ride or for granted. He still has all the rights to take lives away from the face of this earth who fail to revere Him, even He is all-loving and slow to anger.

And when you think you have everything in life to enjoy yourself and do not need God at all, read what God has to say in the next verse - You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. (Rev 3:17)


in His love,
alex