READ: Revelation 3:14-22
“Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, … 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;…” – Revelation 3:17-18
Lukewarmness is caused by prosperity, abundance, luxury and earthly achievements. Most preaching today promotes a terrible lust for wealth. This materialism and prosperity is the root of the church’s lukewarmness. When the church said to itself, “I am rich and I have need of nothing” it turned into the famous lukewarm church of Laodicea. Almost all churches that have prospered have left the true way of Christ and fallen into complacency.
Having the right vision for your life will wipe out the tendency to become lukewarm. Buying gold tried with fire is the key to overcoming lukewarmness. Gold tried in the fire speaks of eternal riches that cannot be burnt when the fires of death appear. It is not easy to lay your hands on real gold that is tried with fire. As you strive to achieve this spiritual goal, you will never be able to fall back into lukewarmness.
I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire… Revelation 3:18
Disregarding earthly prosperity and not valuing it as your life’s goal, is key to preventing lukewarmness. Maintaining spiritual and biblical goals of reaching out to the world and building the church of God will prevent lukewarmness.
The spiritual goals that God gives us are more difficult to achieve than any earthly-minded goals. Having a house or a car is not an achievement as far as heaven is concerned. Open yourself up to the great and lofty achievements that will last through eternity. Seek rewards that can follow you into heaven. The great advantage of having these eternal goals is that you will never fall back into lukewarmness.