Motion

While flying through some turbulence I started to feel something pretty common for me: motion sickness. I have gotten air sick so many times, just the smell of aviation fuel can churn my stomach.

This is the feeling God has when we claim to be His, but simply muddle along doing some good things.

If you look at Rev 3:15-16, it says “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.”

The Greek word for spit there can better be explained as gag on and then upchuck.

“All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags;
we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.” (Isaiah 64:6)

Our GOOD deeds are like dirty menstrual pads. No really. That's the translation for “filthy rags”.

I'm not saying that Grace isn't sufficient and Amazing. We will all continue in the way of the world, sometimes...but for salvation through Grace, we are required to sellout for Jesus. Don't be fooled, just because you pray or call yourself a Christian, doesn't mean your name is written in The Book.

“A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” …You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’” “All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said. When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy. Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” Peter said to him, “We have left all we had to follow you!” “Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.” (Luke 18:18, 20-29)

That is probably the Best trick the Devil has played on us. To make us think that we can be "Christian enough" and then we have our Golden Ticket to heaven. We all want to know, how little can we do and still make it to heaven? What’s the minimum? Sunday church attendance? Prayer? Not saying bad words? …

Reflection Question: How have you been just a Lukewarm Christian this week?