There’s just something that comes with living In the Midwest that you don’t find in other places in the United States. After spending a majority of my life living within this geographic area, I have come to appreciate what I like to refer to as the “rollercoaster phenomenon” – and no, I’m not referring to the attractions in Sandusky, Ohio.
Yesterday, January 16, 2009 I was absolutely freezing cold. The temperature when I went to be last night with the windchill factor was around zero. Now, I do need to say this right at the top of this thing: I am not a big fan of cold weather! Three YEARS AGO WHEN God called me to the Gulf Coast, for a minute I thought I was forever done in the Midwest – but apparently that wasn’t the plan either.
I’m thankful that wasn’t the plan too, because had I not returned to the Midwest, I wouldn’t be engaged to the most beautiful, wonderful fiancé in the entire UNIVERSE!!!
When I woke up this morning I was about to begin importing CD’s into my iTunes, when I realized I had left one of the CD’s out in my Jeep. It was the latest release from former dcTalk member Kevin Max, and the CD is called “The Blood”. It’s a pretty good CD, covering classic songs from church history redone stylistically different. Anyways, the point is that I had to go back outside to get it.
As I looked out the window of my new room in the new place I’m living, I saw the bright sunshine beaming down through the window pane. I was sure not to be deceived by this occurrence. I had seen this more times than I could count in my Midwest years. You see the sun shining, you get excited, rush outside in a T-Shirt for 20 seconds and then have to go to the hospital for frostbite. Well, I was sure not to be fooled this time.
I headed to the closet, grabbed my coat, slipped on some shoes, and put my hand on the doorknob, bracing myself for the wintery blast that was just on the other side… and as I opened the door I was met with a balmy, warm, 50 degree breeze.
Ok, maybe it just felt like 50 degrees when it’s closer to 40, but nevertheless, this is a prime example of the “rollercoaster phenomenon” I am talking about. It is no surprise that 96% of the population gets sick during this time of year when the weather is all over the charts. And speaking of the 96%, did you know that 47% of all statistics are made up right on the spot? Incredible, isn’t it?
And then I got to thinking, I wonder how much the “rollercoaster phenomenon” applies to my life.
In the Bible we see this alarming principle played out in Revelation, chapter 3: 14-22
"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 14-16).
I had always heard this preached in a certain way and when it was preached there was a greater value or emphasis placed on being “hot”. BE ON FIRE FOR GOD! BURN WITH PASSION FOR HIM! Yes, this is important, but the imagery of the heat equaling Kingdom greatness isn’t the only way to interpret this passage.
In verse 15, you see that it is listed first “cold nor hot” and immediately following in verse 16 we see the same words, flip-flopped – “hot nor cold”.
Now I’m no Bible scholar, so take it for what it’s worth. I don’t know the Greek or Hebrew meanings of the words and what they really mean OR how they came to be translated into the English version I have sitting in front of me. That might be a great thing to know how to do, but I don’t know how to do that.
I love the summer, the heat, the warmth – and it might be a lot easier for me to just take that old teaching at face value, assigning “heat to good” and “cold with bad”. There’s only one problem with that… I unfortunately know about R.I.C.E. (Rest, ICE, Elevate & Compression). It’s the “I” in R.I.C.E. that gets me. I know that, sometimes, in some situations, the cold is actually better for me than heat.
IF Jesus were telling us that it’s only good to be “hot”, and IF He uses the things of this world to illustrate greater truths, then how do I reconcile these apparently contradictory, opposing ideas?
And it is therein we find the answer. In the middle of this dichotomy, we find the answer to the question. I believe it is why the order of verses is changed from verse 15 to verse 16. I don’t think the answer is in which is better or worse, hot or cold, but in the result of combining them together. HOT + COLD = a deadly combination.
As we pick up reading in verse 17, we see this played out in the lives of the people in the church of Laodicea:
You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent (Revelation 17-19).
If you combine their perception (rich) with their reality (poor) you find them caught-up in a deadly snare… lost in the middle of mediocrity, idle in their efforts and adrift in the ocean of Lukewarmness. It is the reality of the world in which we live, the first will be last and the last will be first (Matthew 19:29-30).
And so I wonder how the “rollercoaster phenomenon” is played out in my own life. Am I hot one day and cold the next? If a mere change in temperature can cause runny noses and sickness, how much greater is the effect in the spiritual realm? If this world, with its flaws and imperfections only hint at what is to come, how does this play out in an eternal state-of-mine?
I believe this is a serious challenge we are presented with – and in His typical fashion, Jesus leaves the choice up to us. Not forcing our hand or deciding our fate for us, He risks the rejection of His Bride and gives us a choice to choose Him, to return His love.
Are we wayward or faithful? I think this is why it is SO dangerous to “sit on the fence”. First of all, the imagery of this leaves much to be desired. No matter how you sit, or for any amount of time, I don’t find it at all possible for this to actually be comfortable. Instead, choose either the right side or left side of the fence to be on.
Again, I don’t necessarily buy into the old saying about sides: “choose right or be left” when talking about which side of the fences you should actually be on. I believe we serve a God who can use us despite which side of the fence we are on. Jesus illustrates this beautifully while He’s on the cross; criminals on both sides of Him. It was the choice the criminals had to choose or reject him and Jesus who decided to use the one who was still willing (Luke 23:39-43).
So where will you be when you hear the pounding at your door?
“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches" (Revelation 3:20-22).