REVEALING GOD DEVOTIONAL - THE IN-BETWEEN CHRISTIAN
Praise God for another beautiful day. I believe God is faithful even when we are not faithful. Today’s discussion is titled “The In-Between Christian”, and we must not misunderstand it to mean an interceding Christian. This discussion is about what Jesus refers to as the Laodicean Christian.
Jesus, after His resurrection, appeared to John, who at that time was the last living Apostle amongst the 12 disciples of Jesus. He pointed out to him the state of the Church before His Second Coming. He revealed to John seven different states of His Church (Revelation 2-3). But amongst these seven Churches, the last one seems to fit the Church of today, which I believe is the end-time Church. Jesus referred to this Church as the Lukewarm or the Laodicean Church. The scripture says, “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot” (Revelation 3:15).
We must understand that the Church is made of people, and the Church is not the building itself. As Jesus said, wherever two or more people gather in His name, that is where He would be present — in other words, that is the Church (Matthew 18:20). So when Jesus was talking to the Church, He was generally talking to every Christian. Therefore, whenever I use the word “Church”, I am also talking to every Christian as an individual as well.
Now, Jesus described the Laodicean Church as one He could not really place — whether they were standing for Him or for something else. In other words, this was a Church content to be in-between: putting one foot planted in Christ while the other was planted in the world. This Church saw material prosperity as the criterion for proving they were in God’s Will, and so they neglected to impact the lives of other people who were in need. They were selfishly concerned only with their own comfort and benefit. And apparently this is the error that is driving the Church of today. If what I am saying is not true, then you can sincerely answer this question for yourself: Will many people who go to Church still go if there were no material gain involved?
Many people who go to Church in these days go out of a sense of duty or for material benefit, and not to build their relationship with God. The Church of today is so materialistic that it is only bothered and content with the material things that are involved, and not the spiritual things that really matter. But the scripture says, “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” (Revelation 3:17).
The fact is that being in-between is not an acceptable standard of Christianity in God’s eyes, because an In-between Christian is just like the average Christian that we see in the Church today. They might really not be into any visible sin, but their lives don’t witness to others to save them. Or they might look like perfect saints in Church or in the presence of other Christians, but they are no different from the devil’s advocate when they step out of that circle. It is either we are all for Him or not at all. There is no middle ground.
Once we are not all for God, we are in danger of missing out on eternal life. The devil knows this, which is why it is okay with him for a Christian to remain in-between. I have noticed that there will always be more resistance from the devil once you want to stand all out for Jesus Christ, but less resistance once you are in-between. This resistance is a strategy to scare or weaken a Christian’s faith, so that they can remain in-between. And from in-between it becomes easier to eventually backslide. Many Christians are so deceived that they think that the life they are living right now in-between is enough to make them get into the kingdom of God. But we must not be fooled, because Jesus said, “So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth” (Revelation 3:16).
There is nothing wrong with having material things, but there is something wrong when that is what is driving anyone to live the Christian life. Many Christians are pursuing God for a spouse, money, job, healing, houses, cars, and every other thing, but not to know Him more. If we have material things, they are meant to be tools for us to be a blessing to others and to fulfill the Will of God and not to be a distraction (Revelation 3:18). I think the devil is attacking these things in order to make them a distraction for Christians, which is no different from the method he used against Job (Job 1).
Christianity is more than just going to Church, joining the Choir, or doing any Church activity. It is far more than that, because it is the works we do with the knowledge of the truth we possess at any time, which actually determines whether we are hot for God or not. This simply means we must always learn to be in the center of God’s Will.
I encourage you to do your best to be always on the Lord’s side, because this life is not a game where you have an extra life. You have one life and one chance to determine your eternal destination — Heaven or hell? So it is time to dump mediocrity and live fully for Christ. We need to be sure of our salvation at all times by staying hot for Christ. Have a blessed day.
Today’s Reading:
Revelation 2-3, Proverbs 5---
Nevertheless, if you are not born again you can do so today by saying this simple prayer below out with your mouth in faith, believing that Jesus Christ died and rose again for your sins.
[Prayer for Salvation:
Dear Lord, I believe Jesus died and rose again for me. Forgive me my sins and come into my life. I confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. Thank you Father for doing this for me. Reveal yourself to me today. In Jesus name, Amen.
Congrats, your status has changed to that of a child of God, if you said this prayer in faith.