Lukewarm
“So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth” (Rev. 3:16).
God despises those who are lukewarm in pleasing Him. Why? The lukewarm person is like a worthless employee who isn’t putting out much work. He is not totally useless, yet, he is not very productive either. He doesn’t merit firing from the job, nor would you rehire him for the job if he quit. He aggravates you like a festering sore that just won’t heal.
What would you do if you were God and someone you were trying to convert, and form Christ’s nature in, wasn’t putting much effort into overcoming his old self by doing good (Gal. 4:19; Col. 3:6-9; Rom. 12:21)? What would you do with someone who was lukewarm? Well, when coffee becomes lukewarm, you put a fire under it to heat it up. That is just what God does to lukewarm people (1 Peter 1:6-7; Dan. 11:35).
If you know what you are reading is true, don’t harden your heart by not living it (Heb. 3:15; Rev. 3:15-16, 18-19). God is determined to save us, even if we are not determined to overcome. The only way we can lose, then, is to entirely quit living for God; but if we endure to the end, we will be saved (Matt. 24:13; 10:22).
Many are called to ℹ️overcome, but there will be few chosen because few will continue to overcome until they have been made complete (Matt. 22:14). The Lord says, “Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your ℹ️deeds completed in the sight of My God” (Rev. 3:2). The love of many will grow cold (Matt. 24:12). But God commands that, “In reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit” (Eph. 4:22). “Put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him” (Col. 3:8-10). You must not love your old life unto death by seeking to save your old life and continuing to live a sinful life. Instead, lose your old life, ℹ️by living Christ’s life, and you will save your eternal life (Matt. 10:39). It’s that simple.
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