Verses to read- Revelation 3:15-16
“I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!” -Rev. 3:15-16 NLT
When most people read this quote Jesus made in His message to the church in Laodicea, they automatically interpret it as Jesus telling the people that He would rather them be “on fire” with passion to worship Him and glorify His name than to be merely cold and “dead” Christians.
However, why would Jesus want anyone to be a cold, pewsitting Christian? The answer is simple, that isn’t what He meant at all in His message to Laodicea. In fact, once you dig into the geographical components of Laodicea’s location, you will begin to understand this verse with a more logical explanation.
Where Laodicea is located, there are two rivers that come together to create the water supply for the town. The problem is that one of the rivers come from a place called Hierapolis, which is known for its hot springs. These hot springs are full of minerals and are useful for relaxation and restoration. The second supply of water came from a place called Colossae, a place known for their cold, refreshing water, which was useful to drink on a hot day. It was used to quench thirst among many other uses. This water was cold, but it most certainly fulfilled its predestined purpose. Once the water from either place reached Laodicea, the water was warm, full of mineral deposits, and disgusting. This lukewarm water did not fulfill its purpose to provide for the people. When people drank the water, it was so nasty it would oftentimes make them nauseous. It was completely useless, good for nothing, and if you put it in your mouth you would almost immediately want to spit it out. This is why Jesus used His illustration to these people, because they knew that the cold water was highly resourceful and useful, and the hot water was as well. But they knew how nasty it was for the lukewarm water was and how displeased they were with this water.
Jesus wanted Laodicea to know how fake they were. He wanted them to know that their Sunday morning Christianity wasn’t going to send them to Heaven. These people worshipped God on Sundays, but worshipped the world the rest of the week. Going to church and worshipping the Lord during Sunday and mid-week services at your local church is NOT going to get you to Heaven, that is the literal definition of lukewarm Christianity, and Jesus says He will spit you out of His mouth if you are lukewarm.
Don’t be a poser Christian.
Therefore, God wants you to be hot or cold. It doesn’t matter which one you are. However this doesn’t mean you’re either “hot” for Him or “cold” against Him. Being cold is a good thing. Being hot is a good thing. To be hot or cold is to have a purpose, a destiny, a calling, an anointing. It means you have an assignment in the Kingdom. But if you are playing in the middle, you are basically saying to God “I don’t want to go to hell, so I guess I accept your salvation. But I don’t want you.”
STOP PLAYING ON THE FENCE. STOP BEING LUKEWARM. STOP BEING A POSER. BE LEGIT. CHOOSE JESUS.
Be blessed, Jayden Johnson.