The vast majority of God’s people are evidently “Laodicean” at the end of this age. When we truly understand Revelation 3, this is the clear indication. And those who are Laodicean will have to be chastened during the “fire” of the coming Great Tribulation (Revelation 3:18–19). How can you, personally, avoid this fate, and be among those whom God will protect from this approaching “hour of trial” (v. 10)?
Remember, the Laodiceans are not “Satan’s people.” They are God’s people, living at the very end of an utterly materialistic and hedonistic age—an age in which the emphasis is on “self” and on “comfort” instead of boldness in true Christianity. It is extremely easy for many people in this age—yes, many of God’s own people—to want to “get by” without the zeal and “fire in the belly” that characterized Peter, Paul, Moses, David and virtually every outstanding servant of God described in the Bible. Many in God’s Church “want” to obey God, to keep His Sabbaths and observe the Ten Commandments, but are willing to “compromise” and “water down” when it becomes inconvenient or uncomfortable.
The “heart” seems to have gone out of the Laodiceans’ religion, and out of their relationship with God. For, though many are certainly “nice people” and mean well, God says to them: “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth” (Revelation 3:15–16). This “lukewarmness” affects their zeal to do exactly what God says in His word. Therefore, these people will tend to “water down” many of God’s doctrines and teachings. They and their leaders will compromise a little here and there in how they live their lives, how they observe God’s Sabbath and Holy Days, how they pay God’s commanded tithes, how they follow the clear examples of hierarchical government so clearly described in the Bible, how zealously they preach the true Gospel to the world and how fervently they proclaim the Ezekiel warning to the Israelite peoples—before it is too late!
Comparatively speaking, the Laodiceans tend to be rather well off, at least by external, physical measures. God tells them: “Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see” (vv. 17–18). Having, perhaps, more material things—living comfortable lives and being more “socially acceptable” than many of God’s other people—these Laodiceans can easily let down their guard and become smug and self-satisfied. They can feel that they are spiritually, intellectually or socially “superior.” Yet the heartfelt zeal to serve, to sacrifice and to “do the Work” will not be there. The spirit of self-sacrifice and passion to proclaim the Ezekiel warning will be absent. And the “tone” of self-surrender and heartfelt obedience to live by every word of God will not exist as it once did in the Philadelphia era.
What To Do?
The Apostle Paul was inspired to exhort us in 2 Corinthians 13:5: “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.” So we are constantly to be alert as to whether Jesus Christ is really living His life within us. As the Apostle Paul wrote: “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20, KJV). This is a vital key. Is the true Christ of the Bible really living within you? Do you have the same zeal and spirit of service exemplified by Christ, the Apostle Paul and others?
Learn to meditate often on Jesus’ teaching in John 4:34–36: “Jesus said to them, ‘My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work. Do you not say, “There are still four months and then comes the harvest”? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together.’” Is your “food” doing the Work of God? Is your “reason for being” primarily that of genuinely preparing for the coming of Christ’s government soon to be set up on this earth, getting Christ’s message out to the entire world as a “witness” (Matthew 24:14) and “laying down your life” for your brethren?
Jesus said: “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:24–26). Many of God’s people are in a “comfort zone.” They mean well. But the passion for Christ and His service has gone out of their lives—if, indeed, it was ever in their lives! These people are “comfortable” in their social lives. They usually associate with other “successful” people to the degree they are able. Perhaps without realizing it, their real desire is to live safe and comfortable lives—though remaining, outwardly, in the Church of God. In reality, the idea that they are in a “crusade” to get Christ’s message to the world—regardless of personal safety and comfort—does not appeal to them at all.
When they hear Jesus’ words that each of us should “deny himself, and take up his cross,” the eyes of the Laodiceans sort of “glaze over.” Perhaps even unconsciously, they think of these sayings of Jesus as just idealistic—probably intended for people like the Apostle Paul, but not for them today. Such people do not want anyone “messing up” their personal lives with an approach to Christianity that they feel might be too strict or too demanding!
But, again, Jesus Christ says: “So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth” (Revelation 3:16).
Learn To Seek God
A key concept that can revolutionize our personal Christian lives is the concept of zealously seeking God. Most people in the various “Church of God” groups assume that they already know God and His ways. Without realizing it, they often limit themselves to halfheartedly observing the outward forms of Christian living. They go to church. They at least partially keep the Sabbaths. They generally live by the Ten Commandments. Soon, it all becomes routine. But the Apostle Paul wrote: “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). Paul’s type of passionate relationship with Jesus Christ is almost completely missing from the lives of the Laodiceans. Often, they do not really realize this, or know what to do about it.
However, again and again in His inspired word, God reminds us to actively “seek” Him with all our hearts! After the modern Israelites are scattered and taken into slavery, they will finally learn to do this. “But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul. When you are in distress, and all these things come upon you in the latter days, when you turn to the Lord your God and obey His voice” (Deuteronomy 4:29–30).
Speaking of Judah’s first captivity, God describes this same “key” response—which He obviously desires in all His people: “Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:12–13).
God inspired the prophet Isaiah to give us this basic instruction: “Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. ‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,’ says the Lord. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts’” (Isaiah 55:6–9). So each of us must build within our hearts and minds the awareness to constantly “seek” God and draw ever closer to Him. We must not take God or Jesus Christ for granted. We must not sink down into the “comfort zone” of the Laodiceans.
We should all know the primary avenues by which we must seek God. They are: zealous Bible study, heartfelt prayer, thoughtful, purposeful meditation, fasting, and actively exercising the Holy Spirit and “walking with God” in every phase of our lives. If we, as true Christians, let down or leave out any one of these, the power and effect of our Christian lives will be greatly diminished. These five “tools” for Christian growth must be used continually, or we will lapse back into a “lukewarm” Christianity, if, indeed, we do not altogether fall away.
Yes! It is just that serious! We must use these five tools in order to become fully mature Christians. There is no other way!
And in all our Bible study, prayer, meditation and fasting, we must constantly have the approach of “seeking” God—seeking for a deeper, a more profound and a more loving relationship with Christ and our fellow man. We must not assume that we are somehow “superior”—that we “have it made.” Remember, Jesus said: “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35).
There are a few professing Church of God fellowships that exemplify the exact opposite attitude toward their fellow man. Although hanging on to some of the basic truths we have all learned, these people set themselves up as “hanging judges” not only of the carnal world, but of other sincere Church of God people! They are notable because of their obvious feelings of superiority and of the atmosphere of harshness, fear and intimidation that permeates their fellowship.
Genuine love and outflowing concern must permeate the minds and hearts of all “Philadelphian” Christians! Otherwise, they are no more “Philadelphians” than Mickey Mouse!
Yet, as they humbly seek God and the things of God, true Philadelphians will zealously avoid becoming bogged down in worldly pursuits and interests. They will be ever-mindful of Jesus Christ’s warning in Matthew 13:22: “Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.”
Focusing on the “cares of this world” can easily distract any of us if we are not careful. That is one reason why Philadelphian Christians should spend much of their time, energy and resources in the crusade to proclaim Christ’s message to the entire world. Jesus said: “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14). And to the Philadelphia era of the Church, Jesus proclaimed: “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name” (Revelation 3:8).
In 2 Corinthians 2:12, 1 Corinthians 16:9 and Colossians 4:3, the term “door” clearly indicates an opening or opportunity to preach the true Gospel. The Philadelphians zealously desire to have a very active part in proclaiming Christ’s message. They personally work, pray and sacrifice so the magnificent message of Christ’s soon-coming Kingdom may be powerfully proclaimed to all the nations.
Truly having our hearts in doing God’s Work, zealously using the “tools” for Christian growth and scrupulously avoiding the pitfalls of lukewarmness, will help us avoid being Laodiceans—especially if we humbly and passionately “seek” God in every facet of our lives.