Neither Cold Nor Hot
“I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.” (Rev 3:15 KJV)
The water in Laodicea was piped in by an aqueduct. It wasn’t cold, so it wasn’t good for drinking, and it wasn’t hot, so it didn’t make a good bath. It was lukewarm, which was close to useless. The spiritual state of the Church of Laodicea was lukewarm. They were not about their Father’s business. They compromised with the world. They professed to be Christians, but they did not live for God. They were not spiritual. They did not have their minds on God. God does not want people to pretend to be Christians and then not live the Christian life. He doesn’t want hypocrites. He would prefer that we live for Him or not- to be hot or to be cold, but not in-between. God wants a life of holiness for His people. He wants His people to be a separated people, zealous, on fire for Him.
Cold – 5593 ψυχρός psuchros {psoo-chros’}
Meaning: 1) cold, cool 1a) of cool water 2) metaph. 2a) cold i.e. sluggish, inert 2b) in mind: of one destitute of warm Christian faith and the desire for holiness
Hot – 2200 ζεστός zestos {dzes-tos’}
Meaning: 1) boiling hot, hot 2) metaph. of fervour of mind an zeal