I’ve been feeling a little rough the last few days…as a sinus cold seems to have captured me. Because of that, I can’t be sure how much of my normal routine will be followed today.
I hope you will agree with idea presented in this reading that this is no time for APATHY or LUKEWARMNESS in regards to our personal relationship with Jesus—Who is our only hope for success in this life…and in the life to come. Like a big volcano, things are definitely heating up in our world toward the great eruption foretold in Scripture…as, for example, in 2 Peter 3. I’ll recommend that you memorize verse 11 of that chapter.
If the 7 messages to the 7 churches are to be viewed as representative of 7 periods of church history, then this last one addressed to Laodicea is probably most worthy of our attention. I have lots of reason to believe that we are not only passing through the final chapter of the CHURCH AGE, but also the final chapter of human history on this planet.
If this perspective is valid, then the greatest danger facing us today is not an enemy from without, but an enemy from within, one that promotes MEDIOCRITY or LUKEWARMNESS (…although I can’t imagine a time when this would not be a serious danger)—settling for a superficial faith of compromised religious tradition to the neglect of pursuing a passionate personal relationship with the One Who graciously makes Himself available as our SAVIOR and LORD. Listen again to Jesus’ personal appeal for personal fellowship in verse 20: “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” To be sure, this relationship invitation is THE OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFETIME! It also comes to us as A LIMITED TIME OFFER.
The practical fact is that I CANNOT BE OVERCOME BY LUKEWARM MEDIOCRITY WHILE I AM IN HOT PURSUIT OF THE KINGDOM RULE OF GOD—SEEKING HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS (Matthew 6:33). I don’t really need to worry about being COLD—only with COOLING.
With this in mind, here’s some good advice: In order to maintain good overall health, check your temperature regularly.