Sickening to Christ-Laodicea

Revelation 3:14-22, "And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, 'These things say the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: "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 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 that 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 ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."'

Denying the Truth

Wow! In Christ's letter to this church several things stand out. First of all, the letter is addressed to the people in the church. It reads "of the Laodiceans," where as each of the previous 6 letters were addressed to the city. This was not Jesus's church, it was their church. Christ says they are neither cold nor hot, but are lukewarm. What is lukewarm? Have you ever had a soft drink from a fast food restaurant that sat in your car for a a few hours on a hot summer day and taken a sip? That is lukewarm, sickening to the taste. And this is a group of people that sicken Christ. He says that because they were lukewarm, "I will vomit you out of My mouth."

The truth about the Laodiceans is that they had completely denied the truth about Jesus. These are the people blinded by Satan who will enter the Tribulation and Great Tribulation, where God will test and judge the inhabitants of the earth. As Philadelphia was the representation of the people who will be part of the rapture, Laodicea is the representation of those who will face the wrath of God, the tyranny of Antichrist, and the rage of Satan.

These people thought they were enlightened . They considered themselves rich, wealthy, in need of nothing. But Jesus said they are "wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked(shameful)," and didn't even realize it. They were never a part of the body of Christ. Friends, this is the world of the agnostics, the atheists, the false religions of the world. They worship gods but not the "True and Living God." They worship "creation" instead of the "creator." In all honesty, they are hostile to Jesus and what He represents. They have a church, but it has nothing to do with Christ. Jesus Himself said He is on the outside.

I Stand at the Door and Knock

Jesus desperately wants into these peoples lives. You see, He is the "door." He is the only way to enter the kingdom of God(John 14:6). But we must open the door of our hearts and allow Him to enter. He is knocking with the truth that He died for us. He is knocking with the truth that our sins can be forgiven by the shedding of His blood. He is knocking with the truth that we can have eternal life with God through believing in Him, and "being born" again in the Spirit, a "new creation" in Jesus.

Christ's plea to them is to be "zealous" for Him and "repent." He loves them and chastens them for this reason. Jesus informs all that "If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and dine with him, and He with Me." This invitation is for "whosoever" will believe. Friends, this is the cry of our suffering Savior, to all of those who deny Him. But Jesus will not force anyone to accept Him. He has chosen us from the foundation of the world. He died for the whole world, every man, woman and child, so that we would not have too face the eternal torment of hell. Hell was not made for us, but for "Satan and his angels." But we must also choose Him. Have you chosen to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?

If you have not, listen closely. From your heart, from a spirit of realizing that you are a sinner in need of forgiveness of your sin. Tell Jesus that you believe He is the Son of God who died for your sins. That you believe He died on the cross and was buried, and on the third day God raised Him from the dead. That through His shed blood, you ask for forgiveness of your sin and ask Him to enter your heart and fill you with His Holy Spirit. These requests cannot be mere words on your lips, but must be the attitude of your heart. If you do this, from a right heart, Jesus will save you! You will be "born again" a "new creation," never to be a slave to sin again.

Eternity

The walk will not be easy, as you are now a target of Satan. This decision to accept Jesus must be followed by a sincere desire to learn and live by His word, as given to us in the bible. You will stumble and you will fall, but when you do ask God to forgive you and repent. Then keep moving towards Jesus. Friends, we all must acknowledge a universal truth. We are all going to live forever. The only question is where, and we have the choice to decide. We either choose Jesus, and an eternity with God. Surrounded by His love and His peace in heaven. Or we don't choose Jesus. With God, it is, an either/or proposition. We either choose Jesus, or we go to hell. Forever. No change of address, no parole. Hebrews 9:27 states. "that man is appointed to die once, and then the judgment." We will either be judged as in Jesus Christ, and worthy of dwelling with God for eternity, as our sins have been forgiven through Him. Or, we will be judged outside of Jesus Christ with no hope of our sin being forgiven, no way of being worthy of God. When we stand before Almighty God, only one question will matter. What have we done with Jesus? Have we accepted Him into our hearts, and experienced an undeniable change in our lives. Or, have we rejected Him.

These are the only questions that really matter. Tomorrow, we will recap this series on the 7 churches. We will apply it to our lives today and the church of today. Until then, stay warm and listen to Jesus, John 14:6. "I(Jesus) am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."