The Cost of Indecision

Those who find themselves in a place of indecision also find themselves riding an emotional rollercoaster. They feel wishy-washy. Perhaps, you have experienced this for yourself. Part of the experience often include stress, and where there is stress, there is no peace. At least when a decision is made, you have direction and a sense of certainty -even if it’s the wrong one. The fear of making the wrong decision is paralyzing. It’s one big reason people become indecisive. Ironically, there is a big decision every human must make that actually affects the ability to make the right decisions.
That decision is to whether one will go all in with his or her relationship with God. Truth be told, there is no middle ground. Those who straddle the fence, eventually hit a fence post. As long as a person has one foot in the Kingdom and the other in the world, he will never genuinely have the peace that surpasses understanding. There are stark warnings throughout the Bible about trying to have it both ways, so to speak. Let’s be very clear, if one continues to live this way, there will dire eternal consequences. The decision for God gives you access to the wisdom required to make all other decisions.

Lukewarm

Revelation 3:14-16 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of My mouth.
To be lukewarm is to be unrefreshing. How many like drinking lukewarm water when they are hot? How many people love a lukewarm bath when they’re cold? A hot bath is great, so is a cold plunge. By the way, Jesus is not saying He desires people to be spiritually cold: on the contrary. Remember, the Lord uses things (often physical) of which we are familiar to illustrate spiritual truths. They are known as metaphors, which are frequently found in parables. Why would Jesus say, I wish you were cold or hot?
Knowing a little history of Laodicea will actually bring some clarity to the language He uses in this letter. Here are some cliff notes. It was the capital of Phrygia, about 15 miles from Philadelphia. It was a prosperous commercial city, situated in the fertile Lycus River valley at the crossroads of the trade route from the East to Pergamum and Ephesus (part of modern-day Turkey). Originally, its name was Diospolis, but was renamed by the Syrian King, Seleucus II after his wife, Laodice.
Being lukewarm may refer to its sources of water. One source was a spring four miles to the south, from which they actually piped water to the city for drinking. Unfortunately, by the time the water reached the city, it would no longer be cold; rather, it would be lukewarm. Sometimes it would cause vomiting, because of containments from the material used in the piping.
Another source was the hot springs found in neighboring Hierapolis, which was used for bathing. Again, by the time the water reached Laodicea, it would be lukewarm. Here’s a major takeaway: the farther away from the Source, the less refreshing a person becomes. Another word for lukewarm would be, indifferent.  

Self-Sufficiency

Revelation 3:17-18 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
Laodicea had great wealth, some of which was derived from gold it contained. In fact, a number of Christians did quite well for themselves. Because of their wealth, they refused Rome’s help to rebuild the city when it was devastated in an earthquake in 60 AD. They were determined to remain self-sufficient. Hence, we read, “You say, I am rich.”
Moreover, the city produced a fine black wool from its local sheep. Additionally, it boasted of a medical school that produced a well-known eye medicine know as Phrygian powder. Thus we read, “I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments (righteousness -see Revelation 19:8), so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.”
Jesus told us to store up for ourselves treasures in Heaven. Self-sufficient people are self-righteous, which is very unrefreshing. They are spiritually blind. One might say, their self-righteousness has caused them to become incapable of seeing their condition. Their works are self-centered. Those who are self-sufficient are lukewarm!

The End of Laodicea

Today, Laodicea lies in ruins, as it was hit with another earthquake in 7 A.D., and consequently abandoned. There are some remnants, such as an aqueduct, a gymnasium, and tombs. The church at Laodicea no longer exists. Interestingly, these point to lukewarm water, works of the flesh and ultimately, death.

Call to Repentance

Revelation 3:19-22 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 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. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Because of His love for humanity, and especially His Church, the Lord is not satisfied to leave us in a fallen condition. He rebukes and disciplines those He loves. In this case, the word for love is not AGAPE; but PHILEO, which means to have affection for, denoting personal attachment. It’s a matter of sentiment or feeling. This word does not apply to loving one’s enemies, which would be AGAPE (see Matthew 5:44). Moreover, man is never commanded to PHILEO (“love”) God; rather, it is AGAPE. Nevertheless, he is also to PHILEO his fellow man.
This is a call to zeal, as well as repentance. Zeal as opposed to indifference. Interestingly, “I stand at the door, and knock” is not altar call as it often used in church settings. This is a specific call of repentance to those who are distant from Him -the lukewarm; not the sinner in general. Those who are indifferent will decide whether or not they will heed His call and open the door to Him, or simply remain lukewarm. Those who listen, and overcome will find unsearchable rewards.

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