June 5 2017 – Click here to listen
I woke up thinking about Revelation 3:15: I know your deeds; you are neither cold nor hot. How I wish you were one or the other. So because you are lukewarm — neither hot nor cold — I am about to spit you out of My mouth!
We have all kinds of hot and fiery pursuits of all sorts of things, (mainly material in nature) going on in this world, but the most important are often overlooked. Many folks only think of, or discuss their faith on rare occasions aside from a brief while on Sunday. Most definitely don’t live it out, preferring to pursue the more important things as defined by the world. Check out the rest of the Revelation passage: “You say, ‘I am rich; I have grown wealthy and need nothing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.
How do you view yourself? Are you rich in the things that are important to God or to this world?
Someone has wisely said, “If my faith in Christianity is worth anything, it is worth everything.” Too bad the world sees it differently. Obviously, the shallow materialism that defines being rich in this world is not God’s idea of being rich. In fact, God states: “I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, white garments so that you may be clothed and your shameful nakedness not exposed, and salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see . . . So, Amazon’s Bezos and Microsoft’s Bill Gates with all their billions could in fact be mere paupers in God’s eyes and yet the poorest of the poor can be exceedingly rich in His eyes as He gazes at them with an eternal view of their faith.
In Christ, we wear a garment of justification and sanctification. We are blessed beyond measure, sin and shame that would defile us are replaced with shining white garments supplied by Jesus Christ. While so many admire the beautiful people of any age, the soul of man can only find rest and safety within the arms of Jesus. The ones to be admired are those who take His counsel, for all others must perish in their sins. Alas why can’t the world see things through an eternal lens?
Christ let us know where we might find true riches, and how we might have them. Some things must be parted with, but nothing valuable; and it is only to make room for receiving true riches. Part with sin, arrogance, and reliance on self that you may be filled with His hidden treasure.
Christ still graciously, by his word and Spirit, comes to the door of the hearts of sinners. Those who open to him shall enjoy his presence. Christ himself had temptations and conflicts; he overcame them all, and was more than a conqueror. Those made like Christ in his trials, shall be made like to him in glory.
Rev. 3:19
Those I love, I rebuke and discipline. Therefore be earnest and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and dine with him, and he with Me. To the one who is victorious, I will grant the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne . . .