Don’t be lukewarm!

“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.” (Rev. 3:15-16 ESV)

The hot/cold scale

On a scale from one to ten, one being cold and ten being hot, where would you place yourself on the scale? Most would say they are somewhere in the middle. That would mean they are neither hot nor cold. They are lukewarm. The above passage gives a severe warning about being in the lukewarm condition. The Bible has many warnings about how this happens.

Friendship with the world is enmity with God

“You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” (James 4:4 ESV)

Not everyone who says “Lord, Lord” will go to heaven!

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” (Matt. 7:21 ESV)

Most people don’t intend to be lukewarm

Luke warmness happened gradually, a little bit at a time. They gradually became busy with the cares of the world that had entered into their lives and it eventually choked out the God’s Word.

“And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.” (Mark 4:19 KJV)

What to do

“Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.” (2 Cor.  6:14-18 ESV)

Therefore…

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” (James 1:22 ESV)