The love of many will grow cold...

The love of many will grow cold...

It's been a few months since this phrase has been repeating in my head and I cannot ignore it. In the book of Revelation we find Jesus speaking about several churches but one stands out to me, the church of Laodicea. He says to them:

"I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth." ESV Revelation 3:15-16

Now here's a different version

"I know you inside and out, and find little to my liking. You're not cold, you're not hot-far better to be either cold or hot! You're stale. You're stagnant. You make me want to vomit." The Message Rev 3:15-16

Those are some harsh words but what plays over in my head is when He says, I would rather you be cold or hot. Think about what that means, someone who is hot is someone who is after God's heart. They are living holy and are seeking after Him, seeking to please Him. They are truly in love with God and desiring His presence. They are ready to do whatever necessary to have God, to capture His attention. Now someone who is cold is the opposite, they are in the world, living life, telling God blatantly "I want nothing to do with You; I am going to do me now; I don't need You/trust You/believe in You; Leave me alone." Jesus rather you be cold than lukewarm, here is why.

Someone who is lukewarm thinks they know God, they think that they have what it takes to get into heaven. They play church and they are great at it, they attend every service, they raise their hands during praise and worship and they even pray. But they are indifferent about God's presence, they are so numb that they don't feel Him, they have played church for so long they have become desensitized and are no longer capable of feeling God. Not only are they not capable, they don't care to feel His presence. You see it is lukewarm Christians that are keeping cold people from coming to Christ. That is why Jesus says, I rather you be cold because at least if you are cold when I come near you, you are able to react.

This scares me, I don't ever want to become lukewarm. I don't ever want to become indifferent about Him. I want to know when He is the room and when He is not. I want to know that I am doing everything in my power to please Him, to seek Him. I want to long for Him, I want to need Him. The thought of living a life without God scares me. Hell doesn't scare me, burning for all eternity does not scare me, what scares me is not having Him for all eternity, not feeling Him.

I want to give Him my all, I do not want to do this Christian life half-heartily and I certainly do not want my love for Him to grow cold.

If you have grown lukewarm, there is still hope. Here is what He says:

"Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anything hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. 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" Revelation 3:19-22