Because Thou Art Lukewarm...

 

Through this letter which Jesus wrote to the angel of the church in Laodicea, we can clearly understand how serious it is to lack zeal in faith. Therefore, Jesus clearly revealed that the reason He strongly rebuked them, saying, “I will spew thee out of my mouth,” was to make them become zealous.

 

Revelation 3:19 “As many as I love, I reprove and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.”

 

At that time, the people of the Laodicean church had no zeal because they had the following thought:

 

Revelation 3:17 “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and have gotten riches, and have need of nothing...”

 

Therefore, we must be careful not to fall into materialism, that is, mammonism, which connects all things with money or claims that money is the highest value in human life. We must have faith that regards Jesus as the highest and most precious One. Through the following parable Jesus spoke concerning “a certain rich man,” we come to realize that Jesus must be regarded as far more precious.

 

Luke 12:16-21 “16And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: 17and he reasoned within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have not where to bestow my fruits? 18And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my grain and my goods. 19And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, be merry. 20But God said unto him, Thou foolish one, this night is thy soul required of thee; and the things which thou hast prepared, whose shall they be? 21So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

 

Amen. Truly, it is so. Much grain and many goods stored in large barns are things that a person may need, rely upon, and boast in only while he is alive. Once he dies, all those things become useless. Therefore, it cannot but be far more important for us to believe in and rely on God, who is the Lord of life. That is why Jesus also told us to lay up our treasures in heaven.

 

Matthew 6:19-21 “19Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal: 20but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth consume, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21for where thy treasure is, there will thy heart be also.”

 

In truth, our treasure is only Jesus Christ.

 

Proverbs 3:13-15 “13Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, And the man that getteth understanding. 14For the gaining of it is better than the gaining of silver, And the profit thereof than fine gold. 15She is more precious than rubies: And none of the things thou canst desire are to be compared unto her.”

 

Colossians 2:1-3 “1For I would have you know how greatly I strive for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; 2that their hearts may be comforted, they being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, that they may know the mystery of God, even Christ, 3in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden.”

 

Therefore, we must become rich in faith by knowing Jesus and believing in Him alone.

 

James 2:5 “Hearken, my beloved brethren; did not God choose them that are poor as to the world to be rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he promised to them that love him?”

 

In order for us to become rich in faith, we must seek Jesus earnestly and deeply desire to meet Him.

 

Proverbs 2:2-5 “2So as to incline thine ear unto wisdom, And apply thy heart to understanding; 3Yea, if thou cry after discernment, And lift up thy voice for understanding; 4If thou seek her as silver, And search for her as for hid treasures: 5Then shalt thou understand the fear of Jehovah, And find the knowledge of God.”

 

Proverbs 8:17-19 “17I love them that love me; And those that seek me diligently shall find me. 18Riches and honor are with me; Yea, durable wealth and righteousness. 19My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; And my revenue than choice silver.”

 

That is why Jesus also said, “Ask, seek, and knock.”

 

Matthew 7:7-11 “7Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. 9Or what man is there of you, who, if his son shall ask him for a loaf, will give him a stone; 10or if he shall ask for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?”

 

Jesus also spoke in this way to the church in Laodicea.

 

Revelation 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”

 

Amen. Truly, Jesus will meet those who earnestly seek Him and desire to meet Him. He will make them know Him, believe in Him, and rely on Him, and He will give them the most precious life, eternal life. Therefore, so that our life of faith may not be lukewarm, we must all become Jesus’ own people, zealous to know, believe, and follow the word of Jesus.

 

Titus 2:14 “Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a people for his own possession, zealous of good works.”

 

Amen.