Lukewarm (Peace - part 3) 
By Mike Rule

God’s word to us as His children is not always comfortable. Some of the hardest words He speaks are not directed to unbelievers but to the Church. Revelation is full of admonitions to His children – warnings of how easy it is for us to be distracted from Jesus.

"I know your works, that you are neither cold nor 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. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."(Revelation 3:15-22)

There is nothing more distasteful than a lukewarm cup of tea. When tea is hot, it is soothing and pleasing. When it is cold, it is refreshing. When it is lukewarm it can be very distasteful. Likewise, what we do can also be pleasing or "distasteful" to the Father. Thinking we have "arrived" spiritually leads to complacency and we easily slip into being comfortable by resting in all that we are doing for God. This leads us to becoming spiritually stagnant and tepid, even though externally we are extremely busy FOR God. But God loves us so much that He will chasten us and rebuke us and strip us of everything until our eyes are opened to the choice of either receiving Him or rejecting Him. He is not spitting US out, but He is spitting out the things we do FOR Him. He clearly says, if we deny Him, He will deny us before His Father. Again, this is not a denial regarding salvation, but it is a denial of seeing the Power and Glory of God revealed because we are not safe vessels to display it. He is spitting out OUR righteousness – which is as filthy rags to Him. It is the righteousness of Jesus that He finds to be a pleasant drink.

Receiving and rejecting Him may look different than what you first believe. He must define these things for you. Will you let Him heat you up or cool you down? Will you let Him have his way with you so that you can purchase the one thing from Him that you cannot afford to buy, but cannot afford to miss? It will cost you everything – your kingdom, your pride, your glory, your righteousness -- but your everything is really nothing to Him. However, what appears to be nothing to you – resting in His Kingdom, His pride, His glory, and His Righteousness -- is everything to Him. I paraphrase this passage from Revelation like this:

"I know YOUR works, and believe me, you are neither hot NOR cold! I can’t stand the taste of what you are offering me, and unless there is a change, I will spit it out. You have become spiritually complacent because you think you have such a "wealth" of knowledge, understanding and truth. In your present state, what could you possibly need from Me? You think you have Me all figured out. You can’t see how your so-called spiritual "wealth" is distasteful in my sight, and in your zeal for Me you have become the very thing that I abhor. You are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked, and you don’t realize it. Are you willing to receive refined gold --gold that has been refined in My fire so that you may be truly rich according to My definition? I offer you white garments to cover your nakedness and eye salve so that your sight can be restored. Will you receive? I love you too much to leave you this way, but stripping you of everything but my Son is going to hurt. I am willing to do it ALL for you, but you must be willing to receive from Me. Do you know me well enough to recognize my voice when I come to your door? I long to be intimate with you and I long to dine with you. If you will only let go of everything else and receive Me, on My terms. I am keeping you near to Me always, as My Father always keeps Me near to Himself. Do you have the ears to hear what I am really saying to you?"