Revelation 3- 15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth."
I've heard this explained that God would rather have us on fire with zeal for Him or be an unbeliever rather than we be half-hearted Christians. I always wondered why he would prefer coldness than to have at least a partial commitment. But upon second glance, this is not what He is saying. We usually view lukewarmness as someone who is on the fence trying to live both worldly and Christian lives, or just someone who is casual about their faith. But verse 17 actually clues us in: "17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—" This is scary because that describes the goal of most Americans and church people! Don't we make it our aim to obtain a lifestyle of accomplishment to where one day we hope to say, OK, I'm set now! In fact, we have enshrined a time period of our lives called "retirement". We accept this as a right even though there is no promise from God on the matter. What if He expects something else?
So to think this goal is a "given" in our thinking, how shall we escape, if we neglect so great a salvation? I know you think, what does that have to do with my eternal security? That's not what I'm talking about. I mean there are aspects to our spiritual lives that has ramifications here & now, and our "salt loses it's flavor" if we accept lukewarm living and call it normal.
But is God really describing lukewarmness in verse 17? After all in Joshua 1 He says 8"This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth; you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to act in accordance with all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall be successful." Well, for one thing, God's definition of success is not the same as ours. The goal is to DO HIS WILL/act in accordance with all that is written, as it says above. The other thing is not so much the success, but the attitude of " I have need of nothing".The fulfillment of personal goals accompanied by a lack of hunger for God = lukewarm. We don't define it like that, but God does.
Blessed are the poor in spirit,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
For they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
For they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
For they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
For they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
For they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
For they shall be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.
Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
