Blindness To Our “Lukewarmness”
“I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish you were one or the other! But since you are lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth…buy …ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see.” (Revelation 3:16, 18b)
If someone had told me some eight years ago, after returning from a mission-oriented trip to Kyrgyzstan that I was a “lukewarm” Christian I would have been indignant and offended. I may have said in my defense, “Lukewarm believers don’t travel halfway across the world for the cause of Christ.” But now I humbly and truly know that I was blind to that reality. Spiritual pride is the ugliest kind.
Now in 2021 I can look back and see what the Lord in His mercy has done in me to wake me up out of my spiritual slumber and complacency. What occurred since 2013-2021? There was a divorce, a re-marriage, a business that didn’t succeed and ultimately became a significant financial loss. There were multiple temporary jobs. There also were three moves, the final one away from my family and irreplaceable friends. And don’t forget Covid19 and a very disappointing, frustrating and disheartening election.
When I was going through these things I wavered back and forth in my interpretation of what was going on. One thought I had was, “This is all your fault. You are being punished by God.” Or I would ease up on blaming myself and turn my anger towards others, “________betrayed me or deceived me.” I even blamed God. “You let me down. You knew what would eventually happen. Why did you lead me down the road only to find it a dead end?”
Now I have a whole different perspective. I clearly know now that I was “lukewarm” in my love for my Lord. I was saying deep in my heart, “I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing.” (Revelation 3:17a) I did not recognize that I was “wretched and miserable and poor and naked.” (Revelation 3:17b)
I realize now that I wasn’t being judged by an angry God, victimized by evil people or reaping the results of unwise choices. Rather I was being disciplined by a loving Father, brought back by a wise, compassionate Shepherd. For I was one who had little by little had strayed away from His path. “I correct and discipline everyone I LOVE. So be diligent and turn from your indifference (apathy).” (Revelation 3:19) He loved me enough to not let me continue to stray and stay any longer in that state. He saw into my heart what I could not see in my blindness and would not see in my stubbornness. I say to Him today, “Before I was afflicted I went astray but now I keep your word.” (Psalm 119:67)
Dear Lord thank you that, “God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we may share (Your) holiness“ (Hebrews 12:10) Thank You that to “share in your holiness” is to attain a similar exclusive, passionate love for You as You have for us! Thank you that you are a God willing to temporarily HURT us but never to permanently HARM us. Thank you that have promised to turn all things around for our good when we love you and respond to your loving call to us (Romans 8:28) Thank You, that You discipline us not only to bless us but so that we may BE a BLESSING to the many others who need to delivered from “a hopeless end” to find “an endless hope.” (Genesis 50:20)
In Your Holy Name,
Amen