DEAR CHURCH: That's Lukewarm

Thanksgiving is less than one week away. Maybe you already started on the stuffing about three days ago! Because one of the greatest parts of Thanksgiving is the food.
 
There’s hot food.
Hot turkey, fresh out of the oven.
Hot potatoes, mashed with a butter melted down the top of the mound.
Even hot green bean casserole with the crispy things at the top acting as some kind of barrier.
 
There’s cold food.
Cold cranberries sauce – with just the right kick of tang.
Cold desserts each more delicious than the last.
A cold drink to wash it all down.
 
But…
How many of you are looking forward to a lukewarm Thanksgiving meal?
Lukewarm turkey.
Lukewarm cranberry sauce.
Lukewarm potatoes
And a lukewarm drink.
 
Gross.
 
Today’s letter is to a church that was lukewarm. (And to Jesus – it’s just as disgusting as lukewarm mashed potatoes.)
 
Today’s goal is to determine what it means to spiritually lukewarm and to ask the difficult question: “Are we lukewarm?” Before we begin, a prayer: O Lord, strengthen us by the truth, your Word is truth. Open our eyes to see what you want us to see, our ears to hear what you want us to hear and our hearts to believe what you would have us believe. Amen.
 
I. Lukewarm Laodicea
 
This letter starts in Revelation 3:14, “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation.
 
Laodicea was located just south of the Lycus river. It was a fertile area lush with green landscapes. It was great for sheep and led to an impressive wool industry in the city. This industry made Laodicea into one of the wealthiest cities. In fact, in 60 AD an earthquake destroyed the city. But Laodicea didn’t need Roman help to rebuild. They paid for the rebuild on their own.
 
Within Laodicea was a church. This church is mentioned four times in the letter to the Colossians. In that letter, Paul even mentions a letter he penned for the Laodicean church that never made it into the Bible. Laodicea was an important center in early Christianity.
 
Similarly to the other letter, Jesus begins by introducing himself. He reminds the church that he is Faithful and true. This prepares the people for what he’s about to tell them: whether they see it or not, whether they believe it or not, whether they want to believe it or not, he speaks the truth.
 
It matters too! Because Jesus is the Ruler of God’s Creation! He’s the one who provides the fertile land for their rich sheep and wool industry. He’s the one who cares for the sheep that are grazing. He’s the one who gave the merchants the abilities to develop this industry. If it wasn’t for him, their wealth wouldn’t exist. And if it wasn’t for his loving kindness, he’d just send another earthquake to destroy Laodicea.
 
This truthful, powerful God is the one speaking to them. He says:
 
“I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” (Revelation 3:15)
 
Another well-known feature of Laodicea was the natural springs of water that occurred there. The water bubbled up from within the earth. It was warm. It was clean. It came packed with minerals. The water relaxed the muscles, melted stress away and promoted healing.
 
And the temperature was just right.
Not freezing like an ice bath.
Not hot that it’d burn their skin.
 
Warm.
 
But imagine for a moment that instead of soaking in the lukewarm bathwater, you decided to drink it.
 
How’s it taste?
You’d spit it out?
So would Jesus.
 
Only he’s not talking about bathwater in Revelation 3.
He’s talking about the spiritual temperature of the Laodiceans.
 
TRUTH:
Jesus hates a LUKEWARM spiritual temperature.
 
Because when the Bible speaks about faith, it lauds faith that’s on fire for Jesus.
On fire with love for the Savior.
On fire for his teachings.
On fire for sharing his message.
 
Cold? That’s a reference to unbelief. It’s the cold heart of someone who has never come to faith and never been on fire for the Gospel. Don’t get this wrong – Jesus is not saying that he wishes the Laodiceans were unbelievers. But rather, that a cold heart might know it needs something – a warmth that only the Gospel can provide.  
 
But the Laodiceans…they couldn’t care less.
They knew the Gospel and…were APATHETIC.
 
They were APATHETIC about their need for a Savior.
They were APATHETIC about their Savior.
They were APATHETIC about their spiritual state.
 
And Jesus? Was disgusted by it.
 
TRUTH:
Jesus hates spiritual APATHY.
 
It’s easy to understand why:
 
Apathy leads his people away from faith.
Apathy leads his people away from their savior.
Apathy leads his people away from heaven.
 
And…
 
Apathy leads his people away from sharing their faith.
Apathy leads his people away from people who need the Gospel.
Apathy leads people, that he wants in heaven, away from heaven.
 
Apathy kills his church.
 
II. Causes of Apathy
 
As we start thinking about whether or not we are apathetic, I think it’s helpful to identify what leads to spiritual apathy. Look at what Jesus says:  Revelation 3:17, “You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.”
 
The text reveals a few things that lead to spiritual apathy.
 
(1) Being Presently Cared For
 
Laodicea was one of the wealthiest cities in the ancient world. The church was blessed by the economic boom. The people were physically, temporally, and presently cared for. They had enough things and stuff that they began to think – “Do I really need Jesus?”
 
Of course, Jesus said: “You need me.”
Laodicea said: “I think I’ve got all I need in this big old bag of money.”
 
Jesus said: “I’ll give you nourishment.”
Laodicea said: “No worries. I can pay for a night at the Angus Barn on my own.”
 
Jesus said: “I’ll quench your thirst.”
Laodicea said: “I’m not actually that thirsty Jesus. I just got done with my second glass of Merlot. It’s from 17 AD. A good year, no?”
 
Being presently cared for isn’t bad. (That’s why God takes care of us.)
But…be careful…
 
As a pastor, I’ve seen it often.
Someone comes seeking God’s help in time of trouble.
Low on funds.
Job was lost.
Relationship issues.
Sick, in need of prayer.
 
We counsel.
We study God’s Word.
We seek God because the person feels poor and in need of Jesus.
 
But then, life turns around.
Finances are ok.
Job is ok.
Relationship is ok.
Health is ok.
 
And…
It isn’t long…
Before…
 
I mark absent on their worship attendance record for the 12th week in a row.
 
(2) Past Accolades  
 
Past accolades can also lead us into a lukewarm faith. Look at the brag of the Laodiceans. They said: “I have acquired wealth.” That’s past tense. The Laodiceans had worked hard for their money and success – even making their church a success.
 
So now, when they were reminded that God called them to share the Gospel, they responded: “Why? We did that 10 years ago.”
 
Try to tell that to your boss sometime:
“Boss, I don’t think I need to come into work today. I worked a Monday in 2016.”
That won’t work.
 
It doesn’t work with Jesus.
He doesn’t care about past accolades.
And your past accolades cannot get you to heaven.
 
(3) Future Needs
 
The final brag in verse 13 says, “You say…You do not need a thing.” There’s a future sense in that implication. The Laodiceans looked at their wealth, at the 70” HD TVs, at their brand new iPhones linked to their Apple Watches, at their kids being in the number 1 academic school in Laodicea and said:
 
“Thanks for getting me here Jesus, but I can’t fathom having any need for you anymore.”
 
It’s almost as if the Laodiceans couldn’t foresee life happening.
Worse --- they couldn’t see death happening.
 
The warning is for you too.
If you think you’ll never need Jesus.
If you think you’ll never get sick…
…never lose a job…
…never lose a home.
…never die.
 
You’re wrong.
Your faith will grow lukewarm.
 
This is a big deal because…
Jesus isn’t APATHETIC about APATHY
 
I think that’s important to hear.
Because usually, the Christian church, even apathetic Christians, can find some sins they aren’t apathetic towards:
Since that we are convinced Jesus would love to spit out:
 
Sexual sins.
Drug Use.
Violence.
Terrorism.
Racism.
 
And to be fair – these things are sin.
God is not apathetic about them.
 
But he isn’t apathetic about apathy either.
He violently spits the apathetic out.
Because to the Savior who cared so much for you that he came out of heaven, lived in this sin filled world, and suffered a violent death for you...
 
Apathy...?
 
…is disgusting.
 
III. The Solution for Apathy
 
Because Jesus is not apathetic towards apathy so he offers the solution in verse 18, “I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.
 
Take a look at the ways that Jesus provides the solution for apathy.
 
(1) Spiritual Gold
 
The Laodiceans were so rich that they had their own mint to mint their own money. To take copper and silver, to melt it, to mold it, and to put little designs on it.
It’s cute.
It’s nice.
It’s historic.
 
But…
None of this money would be a valid payment for forgiveness.
None of it could earn heaven.
None of it could buy eternal life.
 
But gold from Jesus?
It is refined in the fire.
It has been purified from all impurifies.
It is righteous.
 
That’s important. Because righteousness is the payment required from heaven.
God says, “You want to get in? Pay me righteousness.”
But righteousness means perfection.
So…we are fresh out of righteousness.
 
That’s where Jesus’ comes in.
He has righteousness.
He has no problem making the payment for us.
 
Meaning:
If you’ve been apathetic towards Jesus and need righteousness to pay for that sin…
…the very one that you’ve been apathetic towards is the one who will make the un-apathetically make the payment for your apathy.  
 
(2) Spiritual Clothing
 
Jesus said, “You think you’re rich…but you’re naked.”  
 
You think that the Versaci dress can cover your vanity. It can’t.
You think that your Gucci watch can cover your greed. It can’t.
You think that your Slim fitting suit can cover your sin. It can’t.
 
God can see your heart.
God can see your being.
God can see the ugliness of your sin.
 
But the clothing Jesus’ offers? It covers your completely.
It covers all of your sin.
All of your ugliness.
All of your pride.
All of your greed.
All of your lust.
All of your really big sins that you figure everyone knows about!
 
Jesus death and resurrection covers our sins completely.
So well…
…that when God looks at us –
People who are wretched with sin.
 
He says, “My you look nice tonight.”
 
Praise God for covering us!
 
(3) Spiritual Salve
 
Another thing documented about Laodicea is that they would use water from the natural springs to make ointment salves. The natural minerals were helpful in healing all kinds of ailments in the body. The purity of the water went well with medicines to heal people – especially when it came to eyesight.
 
Yet even the finest Laodicean salve could fix the fact that the Laodicean church couldn’t see its own sin.
 
But Jesus?
His salve is eternal.
His salve is perfect.
His salve is healing.
 
His salve is God’s Word that gives us the proper spiritual eyesight – to see our great need for our Savior and the eternally important value of sharing his message.
 
Because of Jesus’ salve…
 
I don’t just see a clerk at Food Lion. I see a soul in need of saving.
I don’t just see a snotty nosed kid next door. I see a soul in need of saving.
I don’t just see a friend who was mean to me that one time on Facebook. I see a soul in need of saving.
 
IV. What Now?  
 
Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. (v.19-20)
 
Understand what Jesus means.
He loves his people.
He wants to be with them.
Yet our apathy threw Jesus out of the church.
 
Yet…
 
He knocks.
He speaks through these words to the apathetic Laodiceans.
He says:
“Repent! And I will come in and dwell with you.”  
 
And,,,
 
If you’re apathetic…
 
He is knocking.
He is speaking.
He is saying to you right now…
I want to be with you.
Repent or your apathy.
Turn back to me.
 
Because when we do, he promises to sit down with us.
 
That’s the intimate part of Thanksgiving. Everyone sits down and eats together.
Friends.
Family.
Uncle Bob.
Aunt Peggy.
Camella Sue.
 
They eat with you because you love them.
You love them because they eat with you.
 
Look at what Jesus says to the formerly apathetic, now repentant:
“I’ll sit with you.”
“Even though I found you so gross that I spat you out, because of my love – I’ll sit by you.”
 
Through the good times.
Through the bad times.
Through all the times.
 
I’ll sit with you now.
And in the future..?  
 
To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne.
“Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Amen.