Wednesday, August 6, 2014
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I don't know whether or not your town has a big water tank. But if it does, I bet I can guess what it says. It probably has the name of your town on it, right? I don't have some kind of gift. I've just seen a lot of water tanks, and they all look basically the same, you know, with the name of the town or something on them.
But I saw a particular water tank on one trip that really got my attention. Actually, I saw two of them. We were driving through Virginia, and all of a sudden I looked up and here are two water tanks on a mountain overlooking this town. You can't miss them. Two tanks; each one has one word on it. One says "HOT." I'll bet you can guess what the other one says – "COLD."
I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "No Third Choice."
Our word for today from the Word of God comes from Revelation 3:15. God is talking to a church in a place called Laodicea. He could be talking to some of us today. 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 or cold, I am about to spit you out of my mouth." Boy, that's strong language for God, isn't it?
This is kind of disturbing to some of us who might want our Christianity like we want our oatmeal. You know, not too hot; not too cold. "I'll just get a little involved. I'll give a little money. I'll be a little committed." How about, "I'll believe the beliefs, I'll sing the songs, I'll pray the prayers, I'll read the Bible sometimes, I'll help out a little, but you know, I've got a life. Let's not get carried away."
See, we don't mind getting hot when it comes to sports. Oh, man, we get crazy excited. Or business. We're intense! There's no laid back there. Or recreation – wow! Man, we get all passionate about the thing we love to do for fun or about a relationship. But Jesus? Well, lukewarm is okay. He'd rather have you be cold. That's what He just said. "I'd rather have you be cold. Would you be really something? But lukewarm I find repulsive." Like those water tanks: hot/cold. There was not a third choice. There isn't in following Jesus either. It is hot or cold.
In verse 17, it describes these people a little more. It says, "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." See, these are people that, well you can't tell by looking at them, but they're cold on the inside. They look like they've got it totally together.
See, it's easy to mistake success, or prosperity, or a good image for spiritual health. But God is not fooled. Here is this poignant picture in chapter 3, verse 20. Jesus is talking to the church and He says, "Here I am. I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in." Literally, Jesus has been locked out of His own church. He has been locked out of a life that He purchased with His life. Maybe yours. Isn't it time you let Him in and let Him run things? Lukewarm Christianity frankly is hardly worth the trouble. It's boring, it's powerless, and it's unsatisfying. And you're sitting there saying, "Man, I wonder why this faith of mine is so lifeless? Why bother with it?"
See, real Christianity is as radical as taking up a cross daily. This is a time for no holding back – being all in. The Word of God says in Romans 12:1, "In view of God's mercy, what Christ did on the cross for us, offer your bodies as living sacrifices, (That means you're not hanging onto anything.) holy and pleasing to God. This is your spiritual act of worship."
See, there are two signs over God's people today: hot and cold. Step up to one or the other, will you? And when it comes to the Lord Jesus Christ, remember, there is no third choice.