Chapter 31 Revelation
The End of Time

Jesus' Letter to the Church in Laodicia
 
“Write this letter to the angel of the church in Laodicea. This is the message from the one who is the Amen—the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s new creation:

I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! 16 But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth! 17 You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.

So I advise you to buy gold from me—gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. Also buy white garments from me so you will not be shamed by your nakedness, and ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see.

I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference. 2

Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. 21 Those who are victorious will sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne.

Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.” Revelation 3:14-22(NLT)    

In contrast to his letter to the Philadelphians, Jesus’ letter to the Laodicians is harsh. Apparently Jesus has a strong aversion to lukewarm.

This makes me cringe. You and I are the world’s one percenters. We're rich yet we want more. Could it be that we, like the Laodicians, are “naked and poor and wretched and miserable and blind”? Ouch!

The gold Jesus offers has been through the fire. Peter wrote about this saying, “I shall come forth as gold”, referring to a life of being refined by God. God’s love refines. Everything you and I face on this earth is some aspect of God’s refining fire. Our job is to allow what happens to us to refine us bit by bit, more and more into the image of Jesus himself.

Can you say, ‘Lord, I accept everything that you allow into my life as having been filtered through your hands and allowed to come to me with the express purpose of refining me into something new and precious’?

Prayer
 
“Lord, you discipline those whom you love, I accept your discipline and thank you for it. Have your way, Lord, until you have remade me into the person you want me to be. Amen."