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Be Hot For Christ!

Revelation 1-5

We are coming to the close of our reading of the Bible in Chronological order.  Today we begin the end.  Revelation is the end of the story.  Genesis told us of the creation of the world and Revelation tells us of its passing away.  Something new will take the place of this fallen world.  Just as each of the children of God will have a new body, so will the place in which we live.  Every so often the world comes to a panic about the possible end.  We have had preachers, politicians, and scientists tell us the end is near.  My friend the end is near when God decides it is so.  Revelation gives us a glimpse into how the end will play out.

Now I am no expert on Revelation and End Time Prophecy.  I am loath to make emphatic statements concerning what we will be reading over the next few days.  There is great disagreement amongst men of great knowledge and spirit and I would never dream of attempting to place myself in their league.  Still there are some principles expressed in Revelation that we have seen throughout the entire Bible.  I feel I am on safer ground when we run into these occurrences.  Since we will have more time to study each book in the New Testament over the year to come I will avoid digging too deeply into this book at this time.  I will attempt to be more courageous when we come back around to Revelation late in 2012.

With all of that said I think the most important issue facing each of us when discussing the End of the Age is this – are you ready?  The entire Bible is about our need for a Savior.  The exhortation of Christ and His Apostles to the Children of God is to be ready.  Are you ready?  Where do you stand in your walk?  Are you faithful?  Are you going diligently and eagerly about your Father’s business or has your faith turned cold?  I think most of you might say that you may no longer be as “hot” as you once were but you are not cold and that is great.  It is not, however, enough.  Take a look at the following Scripture.

Revelation 3:15-19

“‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot!  So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.  For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.  I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.  Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.”

The verses above were written by John at the instigation of Christ and were addressed to the “angel of the church” in Laodicea.  Even this label “angel of the church” is fraught with controversy.  Is this a literal angel or a human responsible for the church or is it simply a way of referring to the particular church in general?  We don’t know.  What we do know is that the behavior being condemned is very human.

Tell me, does your faith seem to grow more when things are good or when things are bad?  When do you grow closer to God?  A physical life filled with blessings can lead to a spiritual life lived in apathy.  Here Christ makes it clear that an apathetic faith is unacceptable and will be rejected.  These verses are a rebuke to those of us who have it too good.  It is a warning for those of us who have let our faith cool.  Are we on fire for God?  Are we on fire for the building of His kingdom?  Christ tells us to shed our covetousness for things of this world and to trade our worldly desires for treasures He has stored up for us.  Don’t be lukewarm.  Be hot for Christ!

Have a blessed day!

Your brother and servant in Christ,

Bill

Dying to self, living to serve!