For those familiar with the book of Revelation, the word "lukewarm" should be full of meaning. In chapter 3, verse 15, the Spirit describes the believers in Laodicea as being "neither hot nor cold." They were neither burning and absolute for the Lord, nor were they cold and turned away from Him. Instead, they were in a strange middle-ground, a sort of limbo.
Perhaps our concept is that God is most displeased when a believer (this was addressed to the Laodicean believers) turns away from Him or neglects Him—when their heart is cold towards Him. What we see from these verses is that what God hates most is actually when a believer is lukewarm. He says "I wish that you were cold or hot" (v. 15). He shares just how much He hates for His people to fall into such a condition in the next verse:
Perhaps our concept is that God is most displeased when a believer (this was addressed to the Laodicean believers) turns away from Him or neglects Him—when their heart is cold towards Him. What we see from these verses is that what God hates most is actually when a believer is lukewarm. He says "I wish that you were cold or hot" (v. 15). He shares just how much He hates for His people to fall into such a condition in the next verse:
So, because you are lukewarm and neither hot nor cold, I am about to spew you out of My mouth.
–Revelation 3:16
This is a very serious matter to God! He prefers for His people to turn away from Him than for them to be lukewarm. Why is this such a serious matter to God?
The inherent problem with lukewarmness is that such a believer is unaware of their true condition. They think everything is fine when actually things aren't. They think they're in good standing before God and that they're growing in their walk with Him, when in reality they're oblivious to myriad problems that are offending God and they're actually at a complete standstill in their walk with God. This is the real problem that lukewarm believers have: they are oblivious to the fact that their true spiritual condition is very poor.
Because you say, I am wealthy and have become rich and have need of nothing, and do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.
–Revelation 3:17
Have you ever spoken to someone who is in denial? To God, a lukewarm believer is like someone who is in denial. God says, "You're wretched and miserable." They say, "Actually, I'm rich." God says, "You're poor, blind, and naked." They say, "Actually, I have need of nothing!" Isn't this absurd? Hebrews 4:13 tells us that "all things are naked and laid bare to the eyes of Him to whom we are to give our account." Surely God's assessment of our condition is more accurate than ours.
Herein lies the difficulty. Every believer is wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked in some way—if this weren't so then we'd be perfect and wouldn't need a savior. It could be our overall condition as a result of backsliding or an experience that has shaken our faith. Or it could refer to certain areas of our lives or our hearts which we've kept for ourselves and haven't opened to the Lord. Either way, God wants to shine His light on us for in His light we see light (Psa. 36:9). But the question is this: are we willing to allow the Lord to expose our true condition? The Lord makes it clear that to lukewarm believers He has come with a sobering word:
Herein lies the difficulty. Every believer is wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked in some way—if this weren't so then we'd be perfect and wouldn't need a savior. It could be our overall condition as a result of backsliding or an experience that has shaken our faith. Or it could refer to certain areas of our lives or our hearts which we've kept for ourselves and haven't opened to the Lord. Either way, God wants to shine His light on us for in His light we see light (Psa. 36:9). But the question is this: are we willing to allow the Lord to expose our true condition? The Lord makes it clear that to lukewarm believers He has come with a sobering word:
As many as I love I reprove and discipline; be zealous therefore and repent.
–Revelation 3:19
Who will be open to receive such an unpalatable word from the Lord? The Lord said, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock" (v. 20); who will open and receive Him?
If our answer is, "I will" then we'll be those who are crystal clear about our condition before the Lord. We'll know when we're hot towards the Lord. More importantly, we'll know when we're cold towards the Lord. The bottom line is that when we're hot or cold, God has a way. Much like someone who is in denial, there's not much others can do to help a lukewarm believer. Only when we're clear about our true spiritual condition can there be real progress.
If we're serious about this, we'll be willing to ask questions like, "Lord, in Your eyes, what's my real condition?" or "Lord, in what areas am I poor, wretched, blind?" We'll even be saved by praying, "Lord, save me from thinking I'm rich when I'm actually poor!" The wonderful issue of such prayers, as the Lord charges us in v. 19, is our repentance. This is how a believer who is cold can become hot again.
This portion of verses ends fittingly with, "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches" (v. 22). Let's open our ears to what He's saying, even when it's an exposing word. Let's be those who are either hot or cold towards the Lord, never lukewarm.
If our answer is, "I will" then we'll be those who are crystal clear about our condition before the Lord. We'll know when we're hot towards the Lord. More importantly, we'll know when we're cold towards the Lord. The bottom line is that when we're hot or cold, God has a way. Much like someone who is in denial, there's not much others can do to help a lukewarm believer. Only when we're clear about our true spiritual condition can there be real progress.
If we're serious about this, we'll be willing to ask questions like, "Lord, in Your eyes, what's my real condition?" or "Lord, in what areas am I poor, wretched, blind?" We'll even be saved by praying, "Lord, save me from thinking I'm rich when I'm actually poor!" The wonderful issue of such prayers, as the Lord charges us in v. 19, is our repentance. This is how a believer who is cold can become hot again.
This portion of verses ends fittingly with, "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches" (v. 22). Let's open our ears to what He's saying, even when it's an exposing word. Let's be those who are either hot or cold towards the Lord, never lukewarm.