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We were preparing for our Sunday School lesson today and it lead us to begin thinking about a song from almost two decades ago. That song was Living In Ladodicea by Steve Camp, off His Fire & Ice Album, for those that owned it back in the day you probably also remember the cassette was a cool blue color. That song is still so truthfully and can serve as a powerful litmus test for the lives of Christians. The chorus to the song is -

For I’ve been living in Laodicea
And the fire that once burned bright, I’ve let it grow dim
And the very Word I swore that I would die for all has been forgotten
As the world’s become my friend

The complete lyrics can be found here

Of course the basis of this song is Revelation 3:14-22 (NASB)

Revelation 3:14 The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this: 15 `I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I would that you were cold or hot. 16 `So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. 17 `Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, 18 I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire, that you may become rich, and white garments, that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see. 19 `Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; be zealous therefore, and repent. 20 `Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with Me. 21 `He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. 22 `He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”

We need to fear becoming to friendly with the world, because if we do we will no longer stand for anything of God. We will not have strong views, opinions or any real faith. Our life will be lukewarm and good for nothing, as God can not use us and the world will still not embrace us as we are not fully committed to it / them either.

That was the problem the Laodociean’s had. They were wealthy, successful, well educated, and produced by fine wools and medicines, but they stood for nothing. They were at a trades cross road and they survived by being the enemy of no one and by agreeing with everything to passify the cities and forces that surrounded them. You know there are a lot of time in the lives of Christians that can be the described the same way. We have worldly success, but we have nothing of real value as we do not stand for anything in particular.

God’s call for us is to move closer to Him each day, not to move closer to the world. Yet, many times that is exactly what we do. We join in with the world by riding the tidal ebbs and flows of the things that come and go around us. We stand for little and flee from conflict at all cost. Standing for God is more of statement of hopeful intention, not a lifestyle.

God wants us to be strong and brave. He did not call us to shrink away. We command legions of angels, and nothing the world has can compare to what God has and is giving us. Do a exam of your life and decide what you are really standing for. Look over the following questions and see if their answers can help in the process.

What do you stand for?
What do you consistently pursue?
What drives you?
What results come from your labor for God?
Are you closer to God now then your were a year ago?
What would a stranger say the core values of your life are by watching you for a day?
What would your family say the core values of your life are?
What would your friends / co-workers say your core values are?
Can anyone even see any core values in your life?

How can a Christians best show the world their relationship with Christ? Is most of the church in Laodecia? Does Rev 3:16 challenge us, scare us, or is it just irrelevant in our daily lives? Post us and tell us what you think about this post, this blog, and how is God challenging and changing you?

This entry was posted on Friday, February 25th, 2005 at 3:03 pm and is filed under Faith, Family, Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.