More Than Stone

This is the message from the one who is the Amen – the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation: 15 “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish you were one or the other! 16 But since you are like lukewarm water, 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.

The church that this was written to was known to be a banking, clothing and medical center. They were wealthy, they had special sheep that grew coveted wool for clothing, and they produced a well-known eye salve. God mocked the things that they produced. They thought they were wealthy, well dressed and healed. God knew the truth. He saw that they were poor, naked and blind.

This is us. The things we are proud of, the things we do in our own strength, God mocks. It is worthless to Him.
We are physically provided for, and overlook the necessities of our souls
We have religion, and mistake it for Holiness
We have gifts and mistake them for Grace
We are clever and mistake it for Wisdom
We have order, instead of taking up with the God of order
We are in debt to Christ and have no means to repay the debt.
We have compromised so that the world’s way of doing things and God’s way of doing things have become muddled - so intertwined that it’s impossible to tell the difference.
We are like the people in the Emperor’s New Clothes. Parading around in pretense.

God is saying, “You make me sick”. I will vomit you out. I will reject you, with disgust.

18 I advise you to buy gold from me – gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. And also buy white garments so you will not be shamed by your nakedness. And buy ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see. 19 I am the one who corrects and disciplines everyone I love. Be diligent and turn from your indifference. 20 “Look! Here I stand at the door and knock. If you hear me calling and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal as friends. 21 I will invite everyone who is victorious to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne.

HE is the lover of our souls. Only HE can redeem us, only HE can cover our sin with righteousness, only HE can heal us. And He will. Without Him, we are nothing. Come to him, with your poverty and emptiness.

We are sinful, naked, and sick. We just need to recognize it.