14 “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation. 15 I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18 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. 19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. 21 The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”
Some drinks and food in life are just gross at room temperature. This becomes more obvious in a hot month like August. When you pour yourself a glass of milk at home, do you prefer it at room temperature, or when it is nice and cool from the fridge? Do you enjoy a nice warm glass of Pepsi or Coke, or would you prefer one in a cold glass with some square ice cubes? Do you like your ice cream better when it is chilled, or when it is lumpy and has a soup-like consistency? Frankly put, things at room temperature are often unappetizing. Jesus would agree.
In chapter three of Revelation, Jesus tells the church at Laodicea, “I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.” The Christians at Laodicea grew stale and lukewarm in their faith. They looked good on the outside, but the inside told a different story. The Laodiceans became self-satisfied and indifferent to spreading the Word and growing in faith. They felt that they had little need for spiritual things when life was going so good outwardly. They were rich and prosperous, and did not have a need for anything. They certainly needed a wake-up call, and they got one.
Jesus tells them that He is going to spit them out if they continue like this. He calls them to repentance and to realize their need for Him and His grace. Like the Laodiceans, we too can be lukewarm in our faith. We can be lazy in our faith life and view His Word and Sacraments with indifference. We can be content just doing the outer motions of our faith and be oblivious to our constant need of grace or forgiveness.
Fortunately for us, Jesus still comes to us in His Word and Sacraments to create repentant hearts and to give His forgiveness. Through faith in Him, we will not be spit out like warm milk or hot Pepsi, but we will enjoy eternal life with Him for all eternity. ~Pastor Nick Kooi
(Originally published in Emmaus Footprints, Vol. XIX, Number 1, August 2017)