A Divine Intervention

Sometimes love has to be tough. It has to tell the truth, even when that truth is jarring, even when that truth is uncomfortable, even when that truth hurts. Because sometimes, to not be tough or even harsh with someone is to be unloving as we let them continue down the path of self-destruction.

It is such tough love that Jesus showed to a congregation in ancient Greece. To the congregation of believers in Laodicea he dictated a harsh letter through the Apostle John. But he rebuked his people out of love, to jar them out of their apathy and to help them overcome the temptations and struggles of their sinful nature that they might win the final victory in him.

And we do well to listen to this and apply these truths to ourselves and rejoice even in the tough love that Jesus gives us. For it is love for us that prompts him to make a divine intervention.

Let’s look at some seemingly harsh words to this body of Believers:

14 “Write this letter to the angel (leader) 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:
15 “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. 18 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. 19 I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference. 20 “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. 22 “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.” Revelation 3:14-22 NLT

What's worse ignorance or apathy? (Webster defines apathy as lack of interest or concern, or lack of emotion or feeling.) Most of us have heard the ironic answer, "I don't know and I don't care." But Jesus gives a different answer to that question: Ignorance is better than apathy by far! Being cold to the gospel, ignorant, or even hostile to it is better than those who know the truth but are apathetic to it.

Laodicea was a wealthy well-known for three things: 1) for their finances, 2) for their fashion, and 3) for their pharmaceuticals. There was no doubt about it: the Laodiceans had been very blessed by God. Maybe too blessed. The health and wealth that God had given to them led to their complacency. They had all they needed: Enough money to live comfortably, fine clothes, good food, and good health. Life was good...or so they thought. But their wealth led them to be stingy toward God. They were growing more and more apathetic toward him and toward spiritual matters. And they were in danger of losing their faith (if they hadn't already).

But God loved them too much to let that happen. So he would intervene. With a divine intervention, Jesus rebuked them. Through John and through their pastor he showed them some tough love: " But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!.... you are wretched and miserable..." and those so proud of their wealth, their medical skills that could restore sight, and their fine and fashionable clothes, Jesus called, "poor, blind and naked."

Though they thought they were doing just fine -- great, really -- the Laodiceans were anything but. They were wretched in their apathy. Pitiful in their sin! They were impoverished, dirt poor, with no righteousness before God at all. Even though they thought they were doing pretty good, they made Jesus sick -- so sick he was ready to spit them out, literally, to vomit them up.

Wow! Harsh, huh? But why did he do it? He tells them: "Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent." (Revelation 3:19 NIV) The most un-loving thing Jesus could do to them would have been to ignore the situation, leave things alone, and let them continue on their path. But in love, he couldn't do that. He had to intervene. He had to rebuke them and discipline them to lead them to repent and turn to him.

And we know that God loves us enough to the same for us. He will not leave us to our own destruction, but must intervene to rebuke and discipline us.

Notice that Jesus addressed the angel or pastor not the congregation. And while I am certainly not the pastor, I am the leader of this class. So I have to ask, have we lost our zeal for the gospel? Are we still hot? Enthusiastic about serving our Savior? Or have the blessings that he's given to us, the great wealth with which we've all been blessed (as even the poorest among us have so much more than most in this world), has that wealth distracted us from what's most important? Have the comforts and conveniences and pleasures of this life led us to treat our Bibles with apathy and neglect?

Have we lost our zeal to reach the lost? Have we lost the zeal to help others? Have we lost our desire to grow in our faith? Have we become complacent and apathetic in our Christian living thinking, 'I'm just fine. I've come a long way in my faith. I need not grow anymore. Now it's time for a break. Now it's me time.'? Have we lost our desire to grow, to serve, to love Jesus by loving others?"

If we have then we need to watch out! We don't need to let our lukewarm attitudes sicken Jesus to the point that he will spit us out of his mouth! Harsh? Maybe. But that's Jesus’ tough love. He still rebukes and disciplines those he loves. We have an ear! So hear what the Spirit says to us! Be earnest! Repent! Hear his voice! Listen to it and open the door!

And when we do, he will not abandon us. He will come in and will help us to overcome! Jesus will do an intervention.

Even though Jesus didn't offer a single word of praise for this sad congregation, the letter he had John write to them was not without comfort. It wasn't all quite as tough, but was full of gospel promise! In spite of their apathy, Jesus didn't spit them out, but continued to hold out his gracious offer...

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.... If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.

Ironically, the Laodiceans, well-known for their finances, their fashion, and their pharmaceuticals, were poor before God, naked without his righteousness to cover them, and blind to their spiritual condition. But Jesus didn't just intervene to point out their condition. He also intervened to save them.

He also intervened on Calvary before God to become the solution that they and all us need.

He is the perfect substitute who took the place of every sinner in hell. He intervened by taking our apathy toward his Word on himself. He took our lackluster attitudes toward his sacrifice on himself on that cross. And so now, he is offering the Laodiceans true wealth: the gold of the gospel. He offered them the robes of his righteousness that would never go out of fashion. He offered them a salve that would give them spiritual sight and save their souls. And Jesus offers the same to us still!

Now he pleads with us, "Turn to me! Trust in the forgiveness I won for you! Listen to my Word! Listen to what the Spirit says of your sin and of my grace that he might heal your blindness with the salve of the Word, that you might see the truth clearly again! Don't lock me out! Let me in that we might dine together and share the close intimacy we once had! Let me restore your zeal for my Word and your zeal in serving me and others! Let my gospel fire you up again so you're not lukewarm any more, but hot!"

And finally, even to this lukewarm church that was close to being spit out, Jesus offered the promise of heaven with him: Those who are victorious will sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne.

After he overcame all sin by his sacrifice, Jesus was rewarded with his heavenly throne. And now, he rewards those who claim his victory through him. That victory is ours!