Bert's Good Stuff

LUKEWARM

What comes up on your screen when you hear the word "lukewarm?" God uses that word in Revelation 3.16 about the church at Laoicea. It is not good! "I will spit you out of my mouth" He says. He calls them hypocrites, wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. Yikes! What do you make of those strong words!?

So what's wrong with lukewarm? How about lukewarm coffee, tea, soup, coke, ice cream, bananas, or...people? Blah, no excitement or passion, never a clear "yes" or "no"...just "maybe" or "whatever." Ugh. No driving purpose, or vision, just drifting along like debris in the river, routine, sameness, unexciting, predictable, not with it. How does that grab you? "Ptui!" says God!!

There is no lukewarmness or darkness with God...and there certainly should not be any in a person who is indwelt by the Holy Spirit, loved and protected by God Himself, and given everything needed for life and godliness! If I am lukewarm, it is definitely not the work of the Holy Spirit, but reveals a colossal lack of reality on my part! Its an extension of the incredible ignorance of Ananias and Saphira who actually thought they could tell God a big fat lie, and get away with it. What did they have to believe about God to do such a thing? Likewise, what do we have to believe to maintain lukewarmness? It makes no sense at all.

What to do? Ah...good news: all we ever need to do is to turn to God, repent of our stupidity and faithlessness, and ask Him to control us by His Spirit, by faith expect Him to do that, and then do what He says! Simple. We can do that today!
bh December 8, 2007

Web www.bertsgoodstuff.com