Christians Must Have ZEAL
Lukewarm water has a soothing effect on a bather's nerves
— it helps relax a troubled mind. But it's not good for you
to be neither hot nor cold spiritually — a lukewarm Christian!
Lethargy is all too prevalent in the Church of God today! Many brethren
complain of flagging interest and drive in prayer and Bible study. The
easy chair, television and personal pursuits entice and capture the
minds of too many. Real effort at being a Christian - at setting
the proper example and getting along with people — is only
minimally present in some lives.
Does this description apply to you?
I knew a man years ago who said, "I dread the prophesied Great
Tribulation, but I think it will take that horrifying ordeal before I
can stir myself enough to make it. into the Kingdom of God"!
Another person I love dearly could see the rapid approach of this
horrible period on earth — the Great Tribulation - but still
rejected God's way of protection. The calm statement was: "I'll just
have to go through it with all the rest of the world, I guess. Then
perhaps I'll understand and start doing something about it."
I myself have often said that it took - the shock of combat in World
War II to bring me to my knees, before God could begin to "deal
effectively with me.
How many rough knocks do we need to bring us to our senses? Can
God get through to us only through violent means? Let's hope none of us
have resigned ourselves to that approach in life.
The Laodecian Attitude
Notice Christ's warning to the Laodicean church:
"I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I
would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and
neither cold nor hot. I will spue thee out of my mouth" (Rev. 3:15-16).
What an alarming statement, when we understand it! This is a warning
about lethargy. We are living in the Philadelphia era - the sixth
of the seven churches described in Revelation 2 and 3. We are to be
zealously active in fulfilling the great mission assigned to us today!
The overcomers in each era — those who faithfully do their
part are promised a reward. Mere awareness of that reward is sufficient
in some eases to keep those called by God striving to maintain
closeness to Christ.
For some of us, however, the reward alone is not enough. Regrettably.
it takes not just the offer of a reward but threats to life, health and
well-being. That is the wrong attitude!
If you are one of these, the Revelator continues: "Because thou sayest,
I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and
knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind,
and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that
thou mayest be rich [the trial of fire is intended to motivate the
Laodiceans to overcome the lethargy they have slipped into] and white
raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy
nakedness do not appear and anoint thine eyes with eye salve, that thou
mayest see. As many as I love. I rebuke and chasten be zealous
therefore and repent" (verses 17-19)
God created us for His pleasure (Rev. 4:11). Our purpose in lilf is to
fulfill His will and perform the commissions He gives us. We
should be dedicated to this goal regardless of threats. We should not
have to go through the fire — that is, if we understand our
calling and are dedicated to becoming converted.
A lesson from Esau
Read about Esau's tragic mistake (Gen. 25:29-34). It is recorded to
warn us not to take lightly our present calling. It took some time for
Esau to realize the error of his way. By then he had seared his
conscience and was unable to grasp the meaning of real repentance.
The same danger now faces you!
Some have said they will pass up all opportunities to become
converted in this age, hoping to come up in the second resurrection.
They cling to the hope that God.will give them a second chance. Then
they will "make the grade." Then they will be much more apt
to overcome and apply themselves zealously to serving God, knowing
it will be their last chance for life!
That approach, along with the Laodicean attitude, is not sound
reasoning. Can you know you would then be willing to apply God's
way? You cannot foresee what your attitude might be at that time.
Can you afford to take that chance? Even though Esau sought to
rectify his error, he failed: "As Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold
his birthrights For ye know how that afterward, when he would have
inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of
repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears" (Heb. 12:16-17).
Don't despise the high calling you have of Christ — don't ever
take it lightly. If you have truly been called, this is the only chance
you will have (Heb. 30:26-27). It is worth more than all
the materia wealth and physical pleasures that attract you so strongly
today.
Christ's easy yoke
God desires above all things that you prosper and are in good health,
now and forever in His Kingdom (III John 2). He has decreed that, if at
all possible. None should be lost. "And so all Israel shall be saved"
(Rom. 11:26). And, "For God hath concluded them all in unbelief,
that He might have mercy upon all (verse 32).
Christ has provided you with the goal, the example, the environment and
the power needed to attain that great prize. Pick your tools carefully.
for if you have slipped into lethargy you will require the very best.
Look to the superb example — Christ Himself. Fasten your eyes on
the goal. Call upon the promised power of God's Holy
Spirit. Through the Holy Spirit, Christ will make all your burdens
light. He has never broken a promise — not one "Come unto
me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me for I am meek and lowly in
heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is
easy and my burden is light" (Matt. 11:28-30).
Your contract with God
You signed a contract with God at baptism. You surrendered your life to
Him to use as He saw fit. Your end of that contract, the most important
covenant into which any of us can enter, was to draw constantly closer
to God through prayer. Bible study and practicing His way of
life! He, in turn, guarantees eternal life with Him! The
stakes are extremely high. They are attainable though, if you will
continually stir yourself to keep your part of the contract and draw on
God's power to help you do so.
At conversion you sampled Christ's yoke and His burden. Have you
forgotten? Did you not understand at that time what you had
committed yourself to perform?
Christ is our Leader in all things.
His way of life is not the popular or easy way. The message He
brought from God the Father antagonized those of His generation and,
after rejecting Him, they slew Him.
Christ forewarned all who were to follow Him: "If ye were of the world,
the world would love his own; but because ye are not of the world, but
I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth
you" (John 15:19). Remember that warning. and the burden that came
upon you? You rejoiced that you were counted worthy to suffer
for Christ's sake!
Lifelong friends, associates and even your own close relatives turned
away from you in dismay over your newfound direction an life. Some left
you in sorrow; others shunned you in anger. Even your livelihood came
into jeopardy and an some.cases, finding new empioyment and a new home
became necessary. You suffered. Your children suffered and
you along with them, in thier bewilderment.
You counted the cost and willingly paid the price for conversion and
the promise of eternal life. You accepted these adjustments in
your lifestyle.
Now years down the line, these early commitments may have grown
dim — perhaps you have forgotten them. The early challenges of
learning God's will — or eagerly stepping out in faith with the
help of God's Spirit — have faded with the routine of everyday
Christian living. Bible study is stale, less challenging and therefore,
has become sporadic. Prayer is somehow less meaningful.
How to get "back on the track"
Don't wait for another major crisis — or the worldwide cataclysm
of the Great Tribulation — to smash you between the eyes! Satan
has an arsenal full of weapens to strike you down permanently. Let
that realization sink home — let it stir you to
furious righteous anger with the devil and revive your
determination to turn wholeheartedly to Christ. Rely on His
promise of divine help — He will never leave you or forsake
you (Heb. 13:5).
No Laodicean is going to rejoice in the Great Tribulation to come. He
may- survive it and ultimately be in the Kingdom of God. Certainly, the
tribulation will straighten out most lukewarm Christians and put them
back on the right track. But you don't need that remedy, nor
should you want it!
Go to your knees even if you must force yourseif to do so! Cry out to
God for help. Talk it all out with Him. Confess your
lethargy, your lackadaisical attitude, to Him. He will hear and He will
answer.
Then stir up your interest in reading your Bible daily. When was the
last time you read it through word for word? Or does that bore
you? If so, try chain-referencing different subjects in your
msrgin. Go to your minister for ideas and help.
Invite your minister to begin a regular, small Bible study in your
home for friends and brethren in your part of the community. You
will not only learn but you will have helped others find a
solution to the same problems. Your.minister will be able to fathom the
difficulties you face. He can initiate ways to rescue you from the
Laodicean pitfall into which some brethren have stumbled.
Rejoice in the Great Work you were called to perform and help build the unity sonecessary to the Body of Christ (Cor.1:10).
Give! It's so rewarding now and will be for all eternity.
Soon you can rejoice in a battle well fought and won with God's
promised help. God's Kingdom is just around the corner!
by Selmer L. Hegvold reprint from the GOOD NEWS magazine Janurary 1981
