Laodicea’s church receives the harshest rebuke of all from the Lord, with no commendation whatsoever. They are “lukewarm”, an utter revulsion to Christ. Ouch! Yet before we get too sure of ourselves, let’s see why they were chastised. And let’s realize that the encouragement they were offered is the same for us: the possibility of repentance and overcoming.
The city of Laodicea was wealthy in its business, society, and its medicine, actually having a medical school. A medicine to treat eye disease was developed there. We know of its wealth, based on their not needing Rome’s help to rebuild following a major earthquake.
The city was pretty much impregnable and easy to defend militarily, but their major weakness was its dependence on others for water. Laodicea had no major water source, outside of a stream that could only sustain a small city, not one the size Laodicea had become. So they imported their water from Hierapolis and Colosse.
The words used by Christ to describe Himself to the church here speak of His truth (“the Amen”), His faithfulness, and His exceptional quality. The reference to the beginning of creation should stress His name never being downplayed. Christ is the Creator, He was not created.
Robert Thomas wrote that doctrinal deflection leads to moral laxity. Laodicea’s works were a reflection of their lives and conduct, there was no evidence of a positive inward spiritual condition, and this is where the Lord looks. And so He calls them “lukewarm”.
Hierapolis supplied hot water, and Colosse cold. Christ knows how to use analogy to get His point across. Mixing hot and cold water obviously results in lukewarm water. In the hot summer and cold of winter, lukewarm water would make one sick (and Jesus says He will spew them, literally vomit them from His mouth). Jesus tells them they are neither “hot” (spiritually fervent) nor “cold” (openly rejecting the gospel). He’d rather them be one or the other. Why would He like them to be cold? Well, at least then there is some reaction to the gospel, as opposed to none at all. My opinion is that the “cold” were non-believers who had openly rejected the gospel. Some believe the “cold” refers to a refreshing meaning, and that Christ would like them to be refreshing. I can see that application as well. We can ask Him what He meant when we meet Him!
This church was indifferent to God, and that was a major problem. They were boastful and self-appraising, well-off and full of knowledge. Why did they need God anyway? Christ sees them as spiritually poor, though, and only they can fix it by their repentance. These are a desperate people, only they do not know it. And Jesus extends His offer of help. “Buy from Me”, He says, telling them they should be dependent on Him, essentially they should buy something they could never think to afford. Refined gold speaks of a high-quality faith, and the white garment is linked to righteous deeds (works done in Christ’s name, for His glory). Many here, even many in the church, had not experienced salvation, and that needed to change. All their spiritual issues could begin to be remedied by accepting the gift of salvation.
Jesus stands at the door and knocks. Consider the context, the theme of holding fast until He returns, and we see this knocking refers to Christ being on the verge of entering, returning soon. There is an immediacy in the phrase, and the door is that second advent, His second coming. This is how the early church would have heard this to mean, as should we.
Christ ultimately is offering a place in the family of God, to sit with Him in glory, forever.
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
Are we listening? Are we paying attention?
So, the clear warning to me is to never grow indifferent to God and the power of the gospel message.
So, as good as I might ever think I am, I am totally and completely dependent on Him. Just as Laodicea looked for help for life-sustaining water, what they really needed was the spirit-sustaining Christ. So do I.
So, does spiritual discernment characterize my life? Really, can others see Christ in me? It’s up to me to show them.
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