Hot, Cold or Useless?

One of the blessings in life is the ability to get into a hot shower. It’s something I take for granted quite often. Most of the country is just finishing summer, but the feel of fall is definitely in the air. As winter approaches, the part of the country I live, I was thinking about the simple joy of a cold morning and getting into a hot shower. How useful and beneficial hot water is for mankind.

What about cold water? If you’ve spent any time working outside on a hot day nothing is more satisfying than ice cold water. It refreshes and rejuvenates a thirsty body. Nothing tastes better when your mouth is dry and parched. I’ve often driven past the guys that are working on roads in the middle of the summer and have thought about how much water they must consume on a hot day. Yes, I’m sure they throw down some Gatorade as well, but water is really the best to quench the thirst. It never leaves an aftertaste.

God in His goodness has provided all we need, just how simple and how amazing water really is, yet there is one kind of water that the Lord declares “useless”.

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”’ “And to the angel of the church of the Laodicieans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: “I know your works, that you are neither cold or hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. – Revelation 3:14-16

Jesus tells us that two kinds of water are useful. Cold or hot!

The third type causes one to reject it in their body. To vomit it back out.

The Apostle Paul acknowledges his zeal for what he thought was the truth, but yet he had it wrong, and so is unbridled passion for God without knowledge of the truth. To be effectively “hot” it must be according to the truth of God’s word. (Acts 22:3)

For I bear witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. – Romans 10:2-3

When God sets Himself in a heart that once hated truth and knowledge, changes that heart to seek Him and bring Him glory, a believer will be consumed by God according to truth and knowledge.

God also uses those cold and hardened to the gospel for His purposes. This is certainly not a popular today in this cultural “gospel”. The god who loves everyone, judges nobody, and loves you just as you are would certainly not be this god?

For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion,” So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy. For the Scripture says to the Pharoah, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.” Therefore He has mercy on whom He will, and whom He wills He hardens. – Romans 9:15-18

God hardened Pharoah’s heart to show His power. That is straight-forward and very clear. God finds cold water very useful for his purposes and yet many rebel against the truth of this. If you find yourself rebelling against this truth you would do well to consider if you are not cold and hardened yourself?

We have clear promises that anyone who humbles himself will be lifted up (James 4:6-10), and that God will not turn away any who desires to come to Him (John 6:37). Those promises are trust-worthy, but only for the humble.

The question stands today, it’s clear, concise and cutting. Are you hot, cold or useless?

Those that sit in church buildings for an hour on a Sunday, or read some sort of Christian literature, maybe even read a Bible, but show no advancement or fruits of repentance have only the future of being vomited out of His mouth. This is a fearful warning to professing believers. This is a fearful warning to all.

Whom do you desire to serve today? This question should not be dismissed or diminished it really is the only valid question to ask.

And Elijah came to all the people, and said, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him, but if Baal, follow him.” But the people answered him not a word. – 1 Kings 18:21

Kevin