Day 71

‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. ¹⁶ So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of My mouth.” Rev 3:15-16 NASB.

The Laodicean church is described in terms of lukewarm water. Hot drinks and cold drinks can both be refreshing. A cold drink on a hot day really hits the spot. A hot drink on a cold day warms your toes the way few things can. But lukewarm water on any kind of day is nauseating to most people.

About 10 km from ancient Laodicea was the city of Heirapolis, the Rotorua (NZ) of the ancient biblical world. There are geysers, bubbling springs, and extensive terraces of mineral water. In fact, the terraces stand out visibly from anywhere on the site of ancient Laodicea. The water in Hierapolis was and is hot. A few kilometres to the east of Laodicea was Colossae, there the groundwater was cold. But Laodicea had no natural source of water. The city was located where it was because it was the junction between two major roads. So Laodicea piped its water from hot springs far away and by the time it reached the city the water was lukewarm.

I grew up in New Zealand where you can go to “hot pools” and experience a variety of temperatures. Most people seem to fluctuate between the hot and the cold. The lukewarm is not so relaxing or refreshing.

The point Jesus seems to have been making was that the church at Laodicea was unattractive and useless like the lukewarm parts of hot pools. The church at Laodicea was satisfied with less than God’s best, it was absorbed in mediocrity. Jesus’ response to the church is arresting. “You make Me want to throw up!” Previous churches were in deterioration or decline, but this church is really in trouble.

Laodicea is the last church in history. The only hope of the Laodiceans is a clear view of their standing before God.