Serving Leftovers

'I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. 'So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. (Revelation 3:15-16 NASB)

Francis Chan challenges us with a concept that clearly challenges him this week: "Is there such thing as a lukewarm Christian?"  His conclusion from the Scripture above (and others like it) is clearly, "No."  How can we claim to be followers of Christ and yet live as though we are children of the devil?  "Child of the devil," you may think. "I'm a child of God, even if I do make mistakes and sin."

Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother. (1 John 3:7-10 NASB)

Doesn't Scripture say that we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus?  Yes it does.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV84)

"How can sinning after I'm saved, then, make me a child of the devil?  I thought Scripture said that I'm always going to sin."  Well, this second part is not true.  It doesn't say you are always going to sin.  In fact, it says the exact opposite:

As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." (1 Peter 1:14-16 NIV84)

Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace. (Romans 6:13-14 NIV84)

Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation--but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. (Romans 8:12-14 NIV)

Lukewarm Christians refer to people who call themselves disciples or followers of Christ, yet sort-of follow Him - sometimes following...sometimes not.  God told a whole part of His Body (the church) that He would spit them out for living in this way.  Can we be Christians and still serve leftovers to a Holy God?  Maybe Chan isn't the only one who should be struggling through this concept.

Lukewarm Living

"To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. 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. (Revelation 3:14-16 NIV)

One of the most dangerous teachings that the church has propagated over the last several centuries is the idea that once we are saved, we cannot lose that salvation.  God warns us otherwise.

He tells the church in Laodicea that he is about to "spit" them out.  At this point in church history there were no church buildings.  There were no doubts what the word "church" meant.  He was referring to the group of people who believed Jesus is the Christ, proclaimed Jesus as Lord, and experienced fellowship of the Holy Spirit.  They were Christians...whom God was going to spit out.

That's not the only warning He gives us, His followers:

Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins. There is only the terrible expectation of God's judgment and the raging fire that will consume His enemies. For anyone who refused to obey the law of Moses was put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Just think how much worse the punishment will be for those who have trampled on the Son of God, and have treated the blood of the covenant, which made us holy, as if it were common and unholy, and have insulted and disdained the Holy Spirit who brings God's mercy to us. For we know the One who said, "I will take revenge. I will pay them back." He also said, "The LORD will judge His own people." It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (Hebrews 10:26-31 NLT)

Lukewarm living is dangerous. You never know how long God's patience will last before He decides to "spit out" even His own people. It's not good enough to simply proclaim Jesus as Lord. It never was. Lordship means, by definition, that He is in charge, He calls the shots, and that we follow Him. Anything less would be considered insubordination, going AWOL, or even...lukewarm.

Worship. Then Pray.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.  (Genesis 1:1 NIV)

Somehow, I think my prayers would be different if I took the time to "look" at God first.  I don't need to stop praying.  I need to learn how to Worship, then pray.

This morning, I was blessed with a sunrise that illuminated blue skies, white puffy clouds, and a blanket of snow across the yard.  Will I allow that picture to bring me into the presence of our Creator God?

"To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?" says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.  (Isaiah 40:25-26 NIV)

When I come home from ministry groups every evening, my children often have to remind me to stop and look up.  I've grown so accustomed to seeing the starry host spread out across the blanket of darkness that I would walk right past them, were I not reminded to stop.

It is I who made the earth and created mankind on it. My own hands stretched out the heavens; I marshaled their starry hosts.  (Isaiah 45:12 NIV)

Worship begins when I start to catch a glimpse of an Almighty, All-Powerful, Ever-living God.  His Creation cries out in worship, even when I do not.  When I allow Him to stop me from my "important" things of the day, I find myself entering the presence of our God.

"You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being."  (Revelation 4:11 NIV)

Then...and only then...can I begin to pray.

White as Snow

I was awakened yesterday to a beautiful blanket of snow covering the ground.  I love the beauty of snow.  It's pure, clean, white and brings contrast even to the trees.  It's just pretty.

Whenever I look at it, I think about references to snow throughout Scripture.

God, when seen by Daniel in a vision, is described as big, powerful, and pure.  His closing was "white as snow."

I watched as thrones were put in place and the Ancient One sat down to judge. His clothing was as white as snow...  (Daniel 7:9-10 NLT)

When Jesus' mom and Mary Magdalene went to the tomb to treat the body with spices, they found Jesus missing and an angel sitting there waiting for them.  His clothing was described as being "white as snow."

Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb. Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it. His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow.  (Matthew 28:1-3 NLT)

Jesus himself is described in the book of Revelation, where John describes his vision.  His head and hair are so bright they are described as "white as snow."

And standing in the middle of the lampstands was someone like the Son of Man. He was wearing a long robe with a gold sash across His chest. His head and His hair were white like wool, as white as snow...  Revelation 1:13-14 NLT)

"White as snow" is a phrase throughout Scripture that is used to describe one who is pure...and powerful.  The purity of the one being described is almost radiating out from them - showing something supernatural - the power of God.

This purity describes someone else in Scripture as well: you and me.  This seems impossible when we think about the things we've done in life.  Our lives are not pure, perfect, and holy.  Yet, this is the kind of God we approach.  God will not allow anyone in His presence that isn't "white as snow," so that's what we need to become: pure, perfect, and holy.

There's no way for us to become "white as snow" on our own.  Our own past transgressions have already messed up the perfection.  But God has a solution for us all.

"Come now, let's settle this," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow...  (Isaiah 1:18 NLT)

Jesus lays down his life...and a blanket of snow on our sins.  Through Him we are made pure, perfect, and holy.  Through His Spirit we are given unlimited power to live in this way.  Through Him, we are made "white as snow."

What do you think about when you see a fresh blanket of snow?