TEPID AND INSIPID!

TEPID AND INSIPID!

Rev 3:14-17

14 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;

15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

17 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:

          The church at Laodicea provides a recurring reminder that we can become so complacent as to lose our vision and passion. Throughout the epistles we are warned against thinking that form equates to substance. We feel that if we maintain the services, the rituals and the facilities of a church, it will be sufficient. It is not!

          Regarding “works” the Laodiceans were neither cold nor hot. Many words might be used to describe their worship services and community involvement. Tepid means that the ice had long melted in their tea!  Insipid means that their chewing gum had lost its flavor on the bedpost. The fizz had gone out of their soda. Placid is a word that means undisturbed. They were sleeping in their foxhole and were in danger of being overrun by the enemy.

          Regarding “wealth” they felt they needed nothing! The pangs of hunger never motivated them to stir. There was food in the pantry and coal in the bin. Nothing moved them – and that was the problem. Jesus likened them to food or drink that had reached the same temperature as their surroundings. Certain foods are particularly abhorrent when at room temperature – like oatmeal. It produced a gag reflex in the Son of God because their moral and spiritual “temperature” was identical to their culture. No wonder they made God sick.

          The greatest impact a church can apply to her community is contrast. A church must never be what the world is. She must stand in vivid, high definition, contrast to the moral temperature of her culture. Otherwise she is useless.

Dear Lord, let me be like ice to a cool drink or heat to a warm dish. Let my light shine that others may see the contrast between me and the world and glorify you. AMEN