COLD, HOT, LUKEWARM

Rev 3:15, 16 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth.

Many people explain that “cold” represents cold heartedness toward God; an unregenerate or backslidden condition. While “hot” represents zealousness, being passionately on fire for God. The "lukewarm" is explained as representing apathetic, uncaring, unmovable hearts.

But this train of thought creates a problem in saying that Jesus prefers for us to be “cold hearted” toward Him in a backslidden condition as apposed to being apathetic and uncaring. I know Jesus wouldn’t want us to be apathetic and uncaring, but neither does He want us to be lost or backslidden. The solution often offered is that Jesus can do something with the flat out sinner and the all out Christian, but can do nothing with the uncaring "moral" person. This may be true, but it still seems to be falsely accusing Jesus of wrong thinking and just doesn’t make complete sense in my mind.

So let’s look at this in a different light and study a little history on the Laodicians.

COLD: Refreshing, invigorating. Cold water on a hot day is especially enjoyable. Preserves food and inhibits/kills deadly bacteria, especially freezing temperatures; ice.

Pro 25:25 As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.

Mat 10:42 And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.

HOT: Warming, soothing, healing. Cooks & preserves food. Kills deadly bacteria. A hot beverage on a cold day is especially enjoyable.

LUKEWARM: Tepid, distasteful. Neither Hot, nor cold; neither refreshing or soothing. Promotes bacterial growth that is harmful to the body and promotes disease and sickness; food poisoning; vomiting. Can be deadly.

Any cook knows that keeping your food either HOT or COLD is “a good thing”. Leaving food out at room temperature to become lukewarm quickly causes it to spoil and can make someone very sick, even cause death. Food inspectors are concerned with the importance of making sure that hot foods stay hot and cold foods stay cold in restaurants.

This idea even aptly applies to Biblical times, where we “assume” there was no source of refrigeration. “The use of ice to refrigerate and thus preserve food goes back to prehistoric times. Through the ages, the seasonal harvesting of snow and ice was a regular practice of most of the ancient cultures: Chinese, Hebrews, Greeks, Romans, Persians. Ice and snow were stored in caves or dugouts lined with straw or other insulating materials. The Persians stored ice in pits called Yakhchals. Rationing of the ice allowed the preservation of foods over the hot periods.” Ancient Egyptians filled earthen jar with boiled water and placed it on rooftops, exposing it to the night’s cool air. Many cultures also hung buckets of perishable foods/wine in deep cisterns or cold springs. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refrigeration

The geography of Laodicea helps give us a little more understanding. Laodicea was only six miles south of Hierapolis, which was known for its medicinal Hot Springs of 95 degrees and eleven miles west of Colossa, which had pure, cold, refreshing waters. Laodicea itself lacked a natural water supply and was dependent on its neighbors for this vital resource through the use of aquaducts.

“Amongst other interesting objects are the remains of an aqueduct, commencing near the summit of a low hill to the south, whence it is carried on arches of small square stones to the edge of the hill. The water must have been much charged with calcareous matter, as several of the arches are covered with a thick incrustation. From this hill the aqueduct crossed a valley before it reached the town, but, instead of being carried over it on lofty arches, as was the usual practice of the Romans, the water was conveyed down the hill in stone barrel-pipes; some of these also are much incrusted, and some completely choked up. It traversed the plain in pipes of the same kind.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laodicean_Church

“As the hot, mineral-laden waters traveled across the plateau towards Laodicea, they gradually became lukewarm before cascading over the edge directly in view of the Laodicean populace. The people in Laodicea would have been keenly aware of the nauseating effect of drinking from that source.”

This church was providing neither refreshment for the spiritually weary (portrayed through the imagery of “cold” water from Colossae), nor healing for the spiritually sick (portrayed through the imagery of “hot” water from Hierapolis). The church was completely ineffective and thus nauseating and distasteful to the Lord.” http://www.enjoyinggodministries.com/article/44-hot-cold-or-lukewarm-revelation-315-16

They were spiritually LUKEWARM, (not just ROOM temperature, but WORLD temperature). They were spiritually tepid, distasteful. Neither Hot, nor cold; neither refreshing or soothing. Their backsliding/backslidden spiritual condition was harmful to the Body of Christ and their condition promoted spiritual disease and sickness; poisoning their witness of The Word of God, which was deadly to themselves and others. Their apathetic, backslidden, self satisfied condition caused Jesus to want to "spew them out of his mouth".

Pro 30:12 There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.

Rev 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

The Laodiceans had a high degree of wealth and prosperity but were unable to recognize their bankruptcy. Benefiting from its advantageous position on a trade route, Laodicea became one of the most important and flourishing commercial cities of Asia Minor, in which large money transactions and an extensive trade in black wool were carried on. It often suffered from earthquakes, and once was completely destroyed. But the inhabitants declined imperial assistance to rebuild the city and restored it from their own means.

The wealthy inhabitants loved the arts, literature and boasted of a great medical school, where a famous ophthalmologist practiced. The city also lies within the boundaries of ancient Phrygia, from where an ingredient of eye-lotions, the so-called 'Phrygian powder', was supposed to have originated. The wealthy citizens of Laodicia built beautiful monuments and the city minted its own coins. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laodicean_Church

Jesus offered this redemption.
Rev 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye salve, that thou mayest see.

Read all of Luke 12:15-34

Luk 12:15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. 31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.