The Church at Laodicea Was Lukewarm
June 14, 2022
Commentary
This last of the seven churches, Laodicea, is located about 45 miles southeast of Philadelphia and about 90 miles east of Ephesus the city in the first letter. It was a large city specializing in the manufacture of wool and a center for making medicines. Pride and self-satisfaction characterized the people. It was destroyed by the Muslims in the Middle Ages, and today is a mass of ruins.
It is widely thought that things on earth and the visible church will steadily improve until the Lord comes. Laodicea is at large the church of the end times and reveals the church in its true condition. There is nothing to commend this church, although it thinks it is perfect (v.17). The Lord’s condemnation is severe as he says they are lukewarm (vv. 15-16), proud (v.17) and spiritually ignorant (v. 17). Boasting of wealth and methods of organization, it fails to realize the absence of spiritual life in its midst. There threefold need consisted of poverty, nakedness, and blindness (v. 18). The church at Laodicea is typical of a modern church, quite unconscious of its spiritual needs and content with beautiful buildings and all the material things money can buy.
The chapter ends with:
1. A call to repentance (v. 19).
2. An invitation to accept Christ (v. 20).
3. A promise to the “overcomer” (v. 21).
4. The command to hear (v. 22).
Application
Lord, help me to take an honest look at my life. If Jesus took my spiritual temperature today, what would He find? Hot? Cold? Or Lukewarm? He doesn’t like a cold heart, but He hates being lukewarm.
Revelation 3:14– 22 (NET)
14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write the following:
15 ‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either cold or hot! 16 So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of my mouth! 17 Because you say, “I am rich and have acquired great wealth, and need nothing,” but do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked, 18 take my advice and buy gold from me refined by fire so you can become rich! Buy from me white clothing so you can be clothed and your shameful nakedness will not be exposed, and buy eye salve to put on your eyes so you can see! 19 All those I love, I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent! 20 Listen! I am standing at the door and knocking! If anyone hears my voice and opens the door I will come into his home and share a meal with him, and he with me. 21 I will grant the one who conquers permission to sit with me on my throne, just as I too conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”
Illustration: Manned by a Frozen Crew
We read of a vessel discovered a century ago, among the icebergs of the Arctic ocean, with the captain frozen as he was making his last entry in the logbook. The crew were discovered, some in their hammocks and some in the cabin, all frozen to death. The last date in the logbook showed that for thirteen years that vessel had been moving among the icebergs, “a drifting sepulcher, manned by a frozen crew.” Are there churches today in a like condition? (Encyclopedia of Illustrations #3237).