You may be thinking, What a terrible question to ask. How can anyone make God sick? Is that even possible? What does that have to do with fire? I will answer the second question first. Yes, it is possible, and it is something you really don’t want to do. The children of Isreal had rules they had to live by. There were a lot of them, and one of those rules was to not marry anyone who did not live inside these rules. If they did they risked being carried away themselves, no longer believing in the covenant that God made with Isreal. They could end up believing in pagan gods introduced to them by their spouses. Many fell away from God and his promises and as a result, they did things that made God sick of them. God delivered them from the Pharoah-made hell they were in but they rebelled and went their own way. They thought they were wiser than God and no longer needed him. Their love and passion for God cooled off. They became “lukewarm” towards Him.

What in this world is good when it is only lukewarm? Maybe room temperature, when it is in a room is desirable, but not if it is in a refrigerator or a cup of coffee. Lukewarm coffee, neither hot nor cold, is a bit disgusting to me as is lukewarm milk and ice cream, Have you heard someone say the passion has gone out of a relationship? Have you seen a man and wife who used to be on fire for each other but are now more like roommates than husband and wife? I have, I was the husband. I let my marriage become lukewarm at best for a short time. That is very sad, is it not?

Our relationship with our Lord can become lukewarm also.

God uses this word in a powerful divine message to His church:

REVELATION 3:14–22

[14] “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. [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. [20] Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. [21] To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. [22] Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

This message to the church at Laodicea was very personal and direct. The people there got God’s point. The website Scripture Union puts it this way:

To hear this as John’s readers would have heard it, we need to visit Laodicea. Founded in the third century B.C., it was (like Thyatira) a commercial rather than military city. Cicero knew it as a banking center but it was also famous for textiles, especially cloth made from glossy black wool. Its medical school produced ear ointment and eye salve. The city was so proud of its financial independence that it refused imperial help for rebuilding after an earthquake in A.D. 60. No wonder they thought they were rich, well clothed, and had good eyesight (17)! 

What they did not have was a good water supply. Colossae, further up the Lycus valley, was known for its cold springs. Hierapolis, across the valley, had hot springs and was a center for healing and religion. But Laodicea’s water was from hot springs farther up the mountain. By the time it reached the city, it was lukewarm and full of calcium deposits—enough to make you throw up if you drank it! Cold water is good for refreshment, hot water for healing, but lukewarm water is good for nothing—just like the Laodiceans (16). Jesus criticized their works, not their faith (15). Their complacency meant that the grace they had received was not being translated into action to transform the world around them. Yet Jesus still loves them; he still offers to come and sit with them and put things right—if invited (20).

The message from Him is not about being good or bad it is about our passion for him. We should strive to have a burning relationship with God and His Son, and the Holy Spirit is the fuel to make that relationship on fire. Just like in a strong passionate marriage, the fire is in the heart and soul and doesn’t express itself physically all the time, yet people can see it in the faces of the couple, they can sense the strong love and bond they have for each other. Is it really any wonder why God uses marriage as the number one metaphor for our relationship with him? Jesus wants us to be cold towards him instead of having a half-hearted relationship. As it has been put by others, better open antagonism to faith in God as opposed to a half-hearted acceptance. Do God’s love and his son’s sacrifice not move you? Do you yawn in the face of God? No wonder Jesus said, “I would that you were either hot or cold. But you’re neither. You’re lukewarm. Therefore, you make me sick.”

What God really wants is for us to burn with the desire to know him fully. It is just that simple.

Be a hot cup of coffee, not a lukewarm one. Make others see that passion in you so that they want it also.

Luke 3:16 ESV

John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

If we want it, God gives us the desire to love and serve him, no matter what the personal cost it has or the dangers we may be exposed to.

That is the fire of God that lives in our hearts.

Derrick.