Wholeheartedness
by Pastor Jim Lincoln on November 12, 2006
Finishing a race is much harder than beginning one. My college track coach asked me to run the 400 meter hurdles at a WAC meet in Arizona. I loved that race. I couldn't have been more enthusiastic; my heart was really in it...for the first 300 meters. Then it started to hurt. It wasn't fun anymore. Finishing the race is hard work! Some married couples start out with much enthusiasm. But, as the years go by, they get distracted and their affection cools off. It can also happen with age. I've spoken to a number of men in their fifties who have worked hard for twenty-five or thirty years. Some hit a wall and get tempted to hang up their spurs a little early. On his eleventy-first birthday (That's 111 years in Hobbit time) Bilbo Baggins told Gandalf, "I'm old Gandalf... I feel all thin ...like not enough butter spread out over a piece of toast."
Paul knows that our love for God and others deserves wholeheartedness. He also knows that to love God wholeheartedly to the end will be severely tested. Jesus said, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and your neighbor as yourself." Jeremiah said,
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jer 29:13
Here, in Romans Paul says, "Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord." Negatively he says, "Look, don't get lazy, sluggish or lackadaisical (I love that word.). Instead, be fervent. The word (zeontes) means to "boil" or "seethe". In other words, tighten up the chin strap and get to work. Then do your work with all the enthusiasm you can muster. If the word spirit here means the Holy Spirit then do it as Paul says in Col.1:28, "... with all His energy, which so powerfully woks in me."
In Revelation three Jesus speaks some of his harshest words to the church at Laodicea whose zeal for God, for Christ and the gospel had mellowed. He's not speaking here of the difference in personalities. By personality, some are melancholy and others are sanguine and bubbly. He's not addressing personalities. He's addressing some fundamental beliefs and attitudes the church had about themselves and about God that need correcting. You can see these in their conversations. So notice that Jesus listens to our conversations.
I want to do three things. I want to look at Jesus' diagnosis. Second, I want to look at his counsel. Finally, let's look at the glorious promise Jesus holds out to those who overcome.
First, Jesus' Diagnosis. What was this church's problem? And what caused them to loose their zeal for Jesus and the gospel? Now, this is a vision Jesus gave to the apostle John while John was exiled on Patmos just off the coast of Asia Minor. Jesus gave John His thoughts about seven churches in Asia Minor - now called Turkey. These cities were within fifty miles of each other and linked together by trade and postal routes. They represent strengths and weakness of any church. So, although none of these will represent any one church exactly there is much here we can learn about Jesus' heart for His church.
What is Jesus' assessment of the church at Laodicia? Rev 3:14-17:
"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. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm-neither hot nor cold-I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 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."
So much for Jesus "Gentle and mild". Serious error calls for serious assessment.
Laodicea was one of the wealthiest commercial centers of the ancient world. Banking and finance, a famous medical school that specialized in ophthalmology and a booming textile industry made it a thriving city. In 60 AD, when it was almost destroyed by an earthquake, Laodicea rebuilt itself without any subsidy from Rome at all. Like the city the church was also wealthy.
From the outside looking in things looked great. But things were not as they seemed. Jesus, through and for whom all things have been created, sees them as they really are. In v. 14 the angel says that Jesus is the Amen: faithful and true. We can trust what He says about his creation. He knows us better than we can possibly know ourselves.
Jesus pointed out that there a big difference between what they thought about themselves and who they really were. So notice that half-heartedness for God and the gospel can originate in a self focus and satisfaction that blinds us to who we really are. They said, "We're rich, we've prospered, we don't need anything." Like most of us they had money to spare and more than enough for the basic needs of life. Fortunes were being made in the banking business. From the local sheep ranches their textile and garment industry manufactured a glossy black and silky fabric like cashmere. The wealthy lined up to buy their clothes in Laodicea. Their famous medical school was on the leading edge of curing diseases. Doctors at Laodicea discovered a powder from Phrygia that cured ophthalmia. Their economy was booming on a number of fronts. The pride of Laodicea was infectious. And as John Stott said, "The church caught it like the plague."
Jesus said, "You say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing; not knowing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked (17)." Notice the subject of their conversations. What really fascinated these church members? What did they talk about? The subject of every verb is "I". Jesus says, "Listen to your conversations." The theme and focus of their conversations wasn't God, Jesus or the gospel. "For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks." Matt 12:34-35
Recently three churches were featured in the Oregonian. If I remember correctly not one of them mentioned Jesus. Somehow Jesus and the gospel got pushed into the background. Perhaps it got left on the edit room floor. But, can we become more fascinated about what we're up to than what Jesus is up to?
Here's what the members at Laodicea talked about. They talked about their wealth and their success and their abilities to satisfy every need. But Jesus said, "In reality you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind and naked." Their conversations revealed that they credited themselves with their success and prosperity, their skill, ingenuity, creativity, industry, insight and know-how. Jesus says, "In and of yourselves you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind and naked." In reality they were beggars in spite of their prosperous banks. In reality they were blind, in spite of their medical advances in ophthalmology. In reality they were naked in spite of the fact that they have cashmere top coats and cashmere socks and carpets so soft you could sleep on them. They said, "I need nothing." They didn't need any help from Rome to rebuild their city. The truth is, without the grace of Jesus Christ, they wouldn't be able to take a breath. Job says, "If God should determine to do so If He should gather to Himself His spirit and His breath all flesh would perish together and man would return to dust." (Jb.34:14)
When we become the focus of our faith our zeal for God will grow cold. Oh, we may remain zealous! The Laodicea believers sound very enthusiastic to me... just not for God, Jesus or the gospel. Prosperity is a blessing from God! But it can also be a dangerous thing. Solomon prayed, "Give me neither poverty nor riches; give me what I need lest I be full and deny you...or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God" (Pr.30:8).
They lost God as the subject of their lives and they became proud and made themselves the source of their blessings. Their faith in Jesus became lukewarm and tepid. They no longer spoke about Jesus very much if at all. Their hearts no longer burned with gratitude, thanksgiving, praise and wonder for Jesus. The hot springs just over the hill, in Hierapolis, were good for therapy. Jesus says, "O, Would that you were either cold or hot." You put a heat pack on an injury to heal it and you put an ice pack on injury to heal it. However, the pack is useless if it is neither hot nor cold. It's lost its healing affect. When we are more zealous for our own accomplishments and success and prosperity and when our zeal for God and the gospel are flagging and sluggish we have no healing affect in the world.
To use Jesus' imagery, when you are expecting a refreshing drink of ice tea on a hot summer day or the hot chocolate on an icy winter day in Minneapolis a lukewarm drink accomplishes neither. Jesus says that it makes him hurl. "Because you are neither hot nor cold I will spit you out of my mouth." (16) When we make ourselves the center of attention and go on and on about our accomplishments and successes it cools our zeal for God and it just make Jesus sick to his stomach. That's His diagnosis
OK. 2nd What's his counsel? (18) 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. 19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent." Rev 3:18-19
Of course when counsel comes from Christ it always comes with the force of a command. But Jesus is amazing here. After his sharp and stinging rebuke Jesus takes up the role of an advisor. He says, "I counsel you or I advise you." He could have commanded them. Remember from v. 14, He is the source of all creation. Literally v.14 says of Jesus, "That from which creation begins." He holds countless galaxies of stars in the palm of his hand. Heaven and earth can't contain him. He is Lord almighty creator and sustainer of all things. He has every right to command them here. Instead, He's invites them to become persuaded - not just to become obedient. The gospel is to be received as much as it is to be obeyed. He speaks to them in such a way as to persuade them. Yes, He wants our obedience but he also wants our hearts. He doesn't simply want us to knuckle under and begrudgingly do the right thing. He wants our hearts convinced and persuaded that honoring Him above all things, seeking him, and the gospel above ourselves, obeying him when we would rather do what seem most pleasing to us and treasuring His will and His word above our own will give us the greatest joy and satisfaction. So he counsels them.
And what does he counsel? He says, "Buy FROM ME gold refined by fire. Certainly this is metaphorical language. The gold they so eagerly seek is flawed as a source of happiness and will someday fade away. Someone once said, "Hearses don't pull U-Haul's."
"You're so eager to let the traveling salesman into your business or home to sell you stuff. Here I am; buy from me." Now, don't press the metaphor too far. He doesn't mean that you can buy your salvation with money. He's using the imagery of a salesman coming to the door of their home - the kind they so eagerly received and did business with. He says, "Hey, I'm here... just like them but with something far better and far more satisfying. The gold and wealth I give are the riches of God's grace, the tender mercies of God's gospel, eternal life and a salvation and inheritance that will never, spoil, perish or fade away. My gold is not the glories of your achievement. They said, "I'm rich...I'm a big success...I need nothing." But in reality they were wretched, poor, blind and naked.
What should they do? They must humble themselves and repent (19) of such arrogance and foolishness. He's echoing Isaiah who said,
"Come everyone who thirsts, come to the waters and (here's the kicker) he who has no money come, buy and eat. Come buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread and your labor for that which does not satisfy?... Incline your ear and come to me. Hear that your soul may live and I will make with you an everlasting covenant.
"Forsake your former suppliers and come trade with me. Don't put your trust in your banks or horses or anything else put your trust in God."
Jesus continues, "and buy white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen. " Yes, you have beautiful clothes: Tommy Hilfiger and Armani with the most beautiful fabrics ever made. But none of them can cover up your sin and shame. None of them can bring the joy of forgiveness and the gladness of a purity given by grace. None of them can say, "I forgive you...I love you. I have taken you to me my bride. None of those clothes could represent the weight of the father's love who said to his son..."Go get the finest robe and cover my son for he was once lost but is now found None of those garments can speak of the depth of Jesus' love for us who purchased the garments of our righteousness by his death and resurrection. Only the garment of righteousness that comes to us as a gift from Jesus can speak these wondrous things into our hearts for ever and ever.
"Yes", Jesus says, "You have good doctors who can heal the inflammation in your eyes." And we are grateful for them. But, "Come to me and I will cause you to see things as they really are. My salve will make the scales of self deception, pride and unholy visions fall to the ground so that you can see truth about God Jesus and yourself. I will open the eyes of your heart and set you free to see yourselves as you are and as you are in Christ. But you must first repent." Notice He doesn't say these harsh things to harm them (19) "Those whom I love I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent." They are words of a deep love.
The first step in regaining our zeal for God is to repent of being self consumed, and idolatrous in our attempt to be satisfied and filled with that which can never deliver. Let us spit these out of our mouths so that Christ won't have to spit us out of his. Let us seek our riches in Christ, His plans for us and His beauty. May we learn to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. Let us hold it dear that no one can love us like Jesus. All His dealings with us are motivated by His love for us. And let us speak of Him and these things. May God once again be the subject of our conversations.
Finally, He offers amazing promises. Rev 3:20-22
'Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with Me
After a sharp and frightening warning Jesus now says that he stands on our front doorstep. He knocks. But He's not knocking as a salesman knocks seeking to sell us something. He's knocking as the lover of your soul. In The Song of Solomon the Shulammite woman says, "I slept but my beloved was knocking. He says, "Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my perfect one..." She said, "My beloved put his hand to the latch and my heart was thrilled within me. I arose and opened the door to my beloved. (5:2ff) We can't read the rest; it gets R rated after that. The knock was the knock of one who loves.
Look, Jesus is saying, "Many vendors have been knocking at your door. Many want to sell you something. Most want you to make life better for yourselves. But Jesus says, "Here I am...If anyone hears my voice and opens the door I will come in to him, and I will eat with him and he with me. I'm not here to sell you anything that you could buy with money. Come to the waters he who has no money come, buy and eat Come buy wine and milk without money and without price. I'm here to love you and be your friend to eat with you and you with me. It's the reciprocal fellowship Jesus promises with His people. That he should eat with us catering for us the banquet table of his blessings is amazing but that he should wish to share what we have to offer is a wonder beyond our understanding (J. Stott). We aren't worthy that he should come under our roof and yet He is willing to come into our house. He's willing because he has died to cover our sins. He also comes in as the ruler of creation and the ruler of your heart. You have been authored. Therefore you were made for authority. He comes to receive our submission as much as our fellowship. He comes as the master of the house to take control and to conquer our rebellion and willfulness.
But, how do you buy gold without money when you're broke? You hear his voice and you open the door and trust his promise, "I will come in to your heart and eat with you and you with me." He then joins himself to your heart to never leave you nor forsake you. When Jesus dwells in the innermost room of your affections and your trust, he brings the power to conquer selfishness and live for God and others. This is what it means to conquer:
21'He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. 22'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.' NAS
If we let him into our house he will let us into his father's house. Beloved, Jesus conquered sin, Satan and death by loving the Father and us with a perfect love. If we will overcome by His grace and find Him to be the subject of our conversations, if we will find Jesus to be the source of our wealth... If we will find the garments of His righteousness the source of our peace ...if we will find His word to be the lamp and light for our path...if by His grace you will treasure Him as the lover of your soul it will be impossible for you to be lukewarm. And there is only one way to do that... take the locks off the door of your heart and asks the living Christ to come in and be the source of your hope and joy. No one can ever love you like Jesus!