THE LAST CHURCH (PART 1)

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Revelation 3:14-23

In letters to the churches in Asia, Christ, in strong and clear terms, declared his full knowledge of what was going on in all the churches. To those who have virtues worthy of praise, he acknowledged and encouraged; to those who had lost or are losing certain qualities, he upbraided and admonished. He then sets rewards for those who will remain faithful unto the end.
I believe the last church our Lord wrote to, the Church of Laodicea, was not arbitrarily set there as the last but divinely placed to reveal the state and characteristics of the church at the end of days.

The first issue the Lord raised was on passion. "...you are neither cold nor hot", he said. You are not without passion for the Lord, but still, your passion is not palpable! 

"...this people do draw near me with their mouth and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me and their fear towards me is taught by the precept of men" (Isaiah 29:13).

We have seen an astronomical increase in the number of professing Christians all over the world. It has become more fashionable and societally acceptable to be called or known as a 'believer' than to be seen as someone who does not go to church. The reason for this is not far-fetched. The church of this age has inculcated the pleasures the world seeks into its mode of worship, resulting in a fine imperceptible blend of the world and the church. When hot and cold mix, you get something warm, something 'neither hot nor cold'. Lukewarmness is a sign of indecision.

"Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision." (Joel 3:14).

Lukewarmness is a state of confusion. The Message version renders the above verse thus:

"Mass confusion, mob uproar - in Decision Valley. God's judgment has arrived in Decision Valley."  God is not the author of confusion, and so he warned, 'I am going to spit you out of my mouth.'

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