SCRIP-BITS

Revelation 3:15.    I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
 
Oh Friends, let me apologize for an error in yesterday’s Bit, where I said that forest fires were wreaking havoc in Manitoba. It’s actually in the Province of Alberta that the fires are raging through lack of rain; something like 115 of them, with 36 out of control. Forty percent of the town of Slave Lake has been destroyed by fire. Meanwhile Manitoba and the other Western Provinces are battling floods from too much rain. And all I can say to that contrary, untenable heartbreaking situation is: ‘What’s next eh Lord?’ Sadly there’s not much we can do except pray for those unfortunate people and send them whatever physical and monetary support we can. It’s all in the Lord’s hands, and we have to believe that He knows what He’s doing, which is an essential part of our faith. Anyway, please excuse the ole fella for that error, cause he’s only human, thus liable to err. (smile) Now here’s a quote from my ‘P.S. I LOVE YOU’ poster. It simply says: ‘If you’re doing your best, you won’t have time to worry about failure.’ And that’s the living truth my people! If we’re all putting our best foot forward, then we won’t even have time to contemplate failure and its negative derivatives, much less worry about them. That’s why one of the major secrets to success is to always do your best, especially if you’re a believer, because that’s what Jesus expects from us at all times. And right there I think is where we believers always falter. We might give it our best at work or at home, but when it comes to the church, the family of Christ, we too often seem lax, half-hearted and lukewarm; nowhere near as enthusiastic as when we’re partying or involved in any other non-church stuff. But really Friends, it’s in coming together as God’s family that we should be the most exuberant and enthusiastic since one of our major purposes here on earth is to spread the gospel of Christ, which you can’t do successfully unless you’re truly excited and enthusiastic about it. In fact you can’t do anything successfully without a huge amount of enthusiasm and exuberance. So why aren’t we showing that in our walk with Christ eh? Instead, we tend to think that Church and its matters should always be couched in a sort of quiet, sedate, low enthusiasm, background style. However my brethren, because of its ultimate importance, it should be the opposite. Obviously not a rah-rah style, unfocused affair, but certainly an excited, exuberant, enthusiastic, sincere and properly guided operation, because we’re talking about the ONE and ONLY Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour, who gave His sinless life for us as a sacrifice, so that we could be reconciled and return to fellowship with Almighty God, and at the same time provided us with a wonderful opportunity for salvation and eternal life. Oh Friends, what’s better news, what deserves more enthusiasm and excitement than that eh? Absolutely nothing! To win hearts for Christ we must be well organized and sincerely display a large amount of LOVE, joy and affection, else we’re wasting our time and doing Christ and His Church much injustice. And having said all that, it’s no surprise that our Bit, Jesus’ message to the church at Laodicea, in John’s revelation was: ‘I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would (wish) thou wert (were) cold or hot.’ Yes mih people we can’t be lukewarm, fence sitters. We have to be either hot or cold, not simply somewhere in the middle. The story behind this statement, per the scholars is that ‘the hot waters of nearby Hierapolis were known for their medicinal qualities, whereas Colossae was known for its cold, pure water. But Laodicea was forced to receive water by aqueduct from other areas. By the time it arrived at Laodicea it was lukewarm and provoked nausea.’ Nobody would be happy drinking that stuff, so it’s thus also understandable why Jesus further declared: ‘So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew (spit or vomit) thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods (have become wealthy), and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.’ (Rev. 3:16-17) Yes Friends, that’s the very same attitude that exists today, both in the church and the outside world. We lack a vital enthusiasm for Jesus, for the things of God, of heaven and eternity, while foolishly placing the unworthy, expendable things of Beelzebub on high pedestals. Remember the words of C.S. Lewis, that anything which is not eternal, is eternally useless. But luckily our Saviour is such a LOVING and gracious Deity, that He’s also provided a way out for us. Please listen very closely to His advice: ‘I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire (refined), that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment (garments), that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear (may not be revealed); and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.’ (Rev.3:18) Ah mih people, there’s nothing I can add to that, because it says it all. But we’ll conclude with a quote from the scholars explaining the situation back then. ‘Laodicea was famous for its wealth, its bankers, its medical school, its popular eyesalve, and its textile industry. Christ says that spiritually the people of the church are poor, blind, and naked. True wealth is found only in God’s grace. This church had no spiritual value (gold), virtue (white raiment), or vision (eyesalve). He urges the Laodiceans to repent of their lack of genuine faith and of spiritual understanding.’ Oh Friends, I’m sure Jesus is sending that very same message to us today because of the evil, ungodly state of our world and the lack of true enthusiasm and faith in many churches. I implore us therefore to do as He says; repent and seriously turn to Him. It’s the only answer for our embattled world. Much LOVE!…as many as I LOVE…I rebuke and chasten…be zealous therefore…and repent… (Rev.3:19)