Are we Lukewarm?

(Revelation 3:16) “So, because you are lukewarm...”

What I despise the most of all enemies, is how much time we give to their influence in our lives and the power they hold over us. Even just the amount of time we will now spend deliberating this point, means that it has captivate more than just my thoughts as it now warrants putting reflection to paper! This behaviour in itself could become an obsessive pattern, as more time is spent on our doubts (unbelief) instead of the glorious finished work of the cross. Yet to be like the ostrich with our head in the sand would also be just as foolish. This is how I then see it! Scripture is full of examples and we can only ever effectively be in one of two camps; the “camp of faith” or the “camp of unbelief”. And we will look at some of these paradigms. Yet so many believe that they are what we will call free spirits as they wonder between the camp grounds, Gypsies or nomads, wishy-washy, or as the Lord refers to them as lukewarm individuals; and let us be careful not to quickly point fingers but to examine ourselves on where we stand in this regard.

I now only address those who have the Spirit of God, those who have been born again, those who somewhere alone life’s journey encountered verve and their eyes were opened to the truth of the Gospel. Those who were once dead by now live! Or as we may understand it, where we felt we once lived but now are no longer sure. Or maybe we have been drawn away by other spiritual messages that now appeal to our itching ears, or we may look for doctrine that excuses sin in our lives. Whatever it may be that causes us to stumble and wonder between these two camps as neutrals believing that the concept of a peacemaker is cool, after all didn’t the Lord teach us that blessed are the peace makers? “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” (Matthew 5:9) - This is why we need to unpack scripture in context and use expository deliberation to understand its truth. Examine your own heart and you will see how even this comment I have just made, might want us to run off and explore all its options looking for an easy out, any reason not to make a stand for our great Saviour when we shall be singled out; what will we do? Time will tell! Nevertheless, let us consider where we stand in this regard; do we always obediently live in the “camp of faith” or do we like to wander like the rebellious sheep that eventually needs to have its leg broken by the Shepherd, so that it no longer wonders off into danger. My life has been so marshalled. But surely there must come a time where we no longer wonder off into danger. There must come a moment of reckoning when this question will be asked of us from the Lord; “So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.” (Revelation 3:16) – We will eventually need to wear our coat of arms for all to see, we will either be for Him or against Him, we will either live in the “camp of faith”, submitting to all its instructions or the “camp of unbelief”, where it will be obvious whose side we are on. But for those who insist on being neutral, the lukewarm believers, the Lord will eventually spit them out of His mouth. So before that happens let us remember to call upon the name of the Lord and heed His instruction; “I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.” (Revelation 3:18-19)

We may look around and see so many being blessed with wealth and worldly possessions and feel despondent, it is important that we get a grip on this truth and who better to bring us a clearer understanding than uncle Charles, this is what C.H.Spurgeon has to say...

“Upstarts frequently usurp the highest places, while the truly great pine in obscurity. This is a riddle in providence whose solution will one day gladden the hearts of the upright; but it is so common a fact, that none of us should murmur if it should fall to our own lot. When our Lord was upon earth, although he is the Prince of the kings of the earth, yet he walked the footpath of weariness and service as the Servant of servants: what wonder is it if his followers, who are princes of the blood, should also be looked down upon as inferior and contemptible persons? The world is upside down, and therefore, the first are last and the last first. See how the servile sons of Satan lord it in the earth! What a high horse they ride! How they lift up their horn on high! Haman is in the court, while Mordecai sits in the gate; David wanders on the mountains, while Saul reigns in state; Elijah is complaining in the cave while Jezebel is boasting in the palace; yet who would wish to take the places of the proud rebels? and who, on the other hand, might not envy the despised saints? When the wheel turns, those who are lowest rise, and the highest sink. Patience, then, believer, eternity will right the wrongs of time.

Let us not fall into the error of letting our passions and carnal appetites ride in triumph, while our nobler powers walk in the dust. Grace must reign as a prince, and make the members of the body instruments of righteousness. The Holy Spirit loves order, and he therefore sets our powers and faculties in due rank and place, giving the highest room to those spiritual faculties which link us with the great King; let us not disturb the divine arrangement, but ask for grace that we may keep under our body and bring it into subjection. We were not new created to allow our passions to rule over us, but that we, as kings, may reign in Christ Jesus over the triple kingdom of spirit, soul, and body, to the glory of God the Father.” (C.H.Spurgeon)

If our lives seem to be surrounded with doubts and fears let us remember to ignore the giants of life and look to the faithful men and women of old and learn from them. They are all now seated in the heavenly realm waiting for their glorified bodies, they wait on us; “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” (1Corinthians 15:58)

Signing off

Tyrone