“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 not, I’ll 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 eyesalve, 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. (Revelation 3:15-21)
The church of the Laodiceans
The city was built around 300 AD. Laodicea was an economic center located on major trade routes that connected it to important cities like Ephesus, Smyrna, and Sardis. Moreover, it was a center of textile production, medicine, mining, and banking.
Textile production → requires “heavy manpower”, but Jesus calls it “Naked”.
Medicine → requires “medical research”, but Jesus calls it “Blind”.
Commerce → requires “negotiation”, but Jesus calls it “Wretched, Miserable”.
Gold (mining) → requires “technology”, but Jesus calls it “Poor”.
All these four industries are based on human methods or technologies, but not God’s ways. That’s why Jesus calls them naked, blind, miserable and poor. People think that they can rely on their own ability to get everything or make their life more abundant.
“Neither cold nor hot”
Cold heart or hot heart? Is lukewarmness neither cold nor hot? But it’s NOT about the temperature!
Laodicea is between two major cities, Colosse and Hierapolis
Hierapolis was famous for its hot springs. And Colosse was famous of the cold spring water for drinking
The hot springs in Hierapolis have a temperature of 95 degrees Fahrenheit and a high content of calcium carbonate, which has the function of curing skin diseases and other diseases. The hot spring of Hierapolis rushed down from a cliff about 300 feet high. The minerals in the water began to precipitate as the water became cold, and the temperature of the water began to drop. It flowed through Laodicea and then to Colosse. It eventually became clear, cold water when reaching Colosse, which can be used for drinking.
Only Laodicea is located between the two cities. The water is "neither cold nor hot," and its warm water contains a lot of calcium carbonate, which is neither for healing nor delicious. This impurity and unpleasant water entered the mouth; no one wanted to drink it, but spit it out!
Laodicea’s water wasn’t a cold spring for drinking, nor was it hot for bathing. It’s water without a purpose.
Laodicean church failed to fulfill their purpose and function.
Laodicean church represents the End-time church. Without fulfilling our purpose in life, we become like the Laodicean church.
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.” (Matthew 5:13-16)
“I counsel you to buy from Me”
Buy: trading with God
Buy garments: Clothed in white garments instead of nakedness
Buy medicine: To anoint your eyes with eyesalve
Buy gold refined in the fire: True riches is a life refined by God
“Therefore be zealous and repent!”
There is still time and remedy for the church of the Laodiceans!
Open the door! Jesus is knocking today!