“You make me want to vomit!”

Can you imagine hearing those words from the Lord Jesus?
You don’t have to imagine! He actually told a church in ancient Turkey that was how He felt about them! What had they done to provoke His reaction? Nothing; precisely nothing! The church in Laodicea was prosperous, doctrinally sound, morally whole – and full of apathy. They wanted Jesus Christ to promise them Heaven but not to bother them while they lived on earth. “We’re doing fine right now. Thanks for being there if we need You.” was their attitude. There is no insult to the majesty of Christ quite like ignoring Him, considering the Lord of Glory peripheral to life.

That text in the 3rd chapter of Revelation has stuck with me since I read it earlier this week. The church in Laodicea, 96 A.D., and the church in America, 2009 A.D., share some very common traits. Our message is right. Our buildings are maintained and attractive. Our music is good and relevant. But, the passionate pursuit of Christ as the Center of it all, is often absent. We want a ‘convenient Jesus,’ at the ready for those moments when we can no longer manage life on our own. We know we need Jesus to get to Heaven, however we are a lot less convinced that we need or want Him messing around in our choices right at this moment. Our casual contempt for His Majesty evokes a strong reaction from Him, just as it did when He saw the same attitude of self-sufficiency in Laodicea. "You’re stale. You’re stagnant. You make me want to vomit." (Revelation 3:16, The Message)

A bland, stale, stagnant form of Christianity has become the norm. It’s made us nice people who are good neighbors and diligent employees. But, few of us are ready to get so serious about His call that we will be revolutionary.

How many of us pray for our children to grow up and become missionaries to unreached peoples in undeveloped nations?
“But, Jerry, if they do that, they will be poor!”

How many of us invite God to break our hearts with the needs of the mentally ill or the socially incompetent so that we are willing to let them take up time on our weekends or live in our houses?
“But, I need my privacy, my downtime.”

How many of us are willing to consider radically reducing our level of consumption so we can take a job that requires fewer hours so that we can devote a much larger chunk of our time to active ministry work?
“Come on, Jerry, you can’t be serious. How can I do that and afford to live a normal life?”

The Laodicean Christians thought they were admirable people. After all, they didn’t need anything from anybody. They were full of themselves and happy. But, their self-estimate was far from the Truth. Jesus said, "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." (Revelation 3:17-18, NLT)

Even we dis’ Jesus Christ with our contemptuous ways, He is patient and pursues us. That passage in Revelation does not end with Him sending down fire on the Laodiceans. Instead, He renews His offer of fellowship. What patience, what love! Some say that Jesus is done with the Church, that He has written us off, and moved on. I don’t think so. Here’s a word from the Word. Read it as His offer, and I pray you will respond to Him with an invitation to take His rightful place at the forefront of your dreams, your hopes, and your life.

“Look at me. I stand at the door. I knock.
If you hear me call and open the door, I’ll come right in and sit down to supper with you.

Conquerors will sit alongside me at the head table, just as I, having conquered, took the place of honor at the side of my Father. That’s my gift to the conquerors!” (Revelation 3:20-21, The Message)
______________

You are my life, O precious Christ.
You are to me the pearl of greatest price.
My love for You will never die.
Jesus, You are my life.

O Holy Fire, Love's Purest Light.
Burn all desires 'til
You are my one delight.
My love for You will never die
Jesus, You are my life.

I come to You.
I run to You.
There's no greater joy
Than knowing You.

O conquering King, conquer my heart
And make of me a pleasing gift to God
My love for You will never die
Jesus, You are my life.

Jesus You Are My Life

Fry, Steve© 1994 Maranatha Praise, Inc. / Word Music, Inc. (a div. of Word Music Group, Inc.)
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