Be Hot or Be Cold, Don’t Be Lukewarm

The Danger of Being Lukewarm: Why Passion Matters in Your Faith

There's something deeply unsettling about halfway commitment. Whether it's in relationships, careers, or faith, lukewarm dedication leaves everyone frustrated. But when it comes to your relationship with God, being lukewarm isn't just disappointing—it's dangerous.

The God We Worship Matters

In our culture today, there's a growing sentiment that all paths lead to the same destination, that we can worship any god and arrive at the same eternal home. This couldn't be further from the truth. When celebrities stand on platforms and say "I want to thank God," we have to ask: which God?

The reality is that there is one true God—the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. This isn't about being narrow-minded; it's about being truthful. We don't worship just any deity or spiritual force. We worship the Creator who spoke everything into existence, the One who established the plan of salvation from the foundation of the world.

Think about that phrase: "from the foundation of the world." Before time began, before anything existed, God already knew the plan. Jesus was crucified from the foundation of the world. How is that even possible? It's because our God exists outside of time, seeing the end from the beginning, orchestrating redemption before we ever needed it.

The Temple Veil and God's Established Plan

When Jesus died on the cross, the temple veil was torn from top to bottom. This detail matters. If it had been torn from bottom to top, human hands could have done it. But God tore it from the top down, symbolizing that He—and He alone—established the way to come into His presence.

This is why there aren't many ways to get to God. The veil being rent wasn't a suggestion or one option among many. It was God declaring, "This is the way. Through my Son's sacrifice, you now have access to me."

When the Fire Fades

Remember when you first got saved? Remember that overwhelming joy, that unshakeable excitement, that urgency to tell everyone about what God had done for you? You couldn't wait to get to church. You carried your Bible proudly. You thought everyone would celebrate with you when you shared the good news.

Then reality hit. Not everyone was happy about your transformation. Some people actually preferred you when you were broken, when you were spending your money at casinos instead of giving to the church, when you were living for yourself instead of for God.

And somewhere along the way, for many believers, the fire starts to fade. The passion cools. Church becomes optional rather than essential. Prayer becomes sporadic instead of constant. The Bible gathers dust instead of being devoured.

This is the lukewarm state that God warns us about.

The Church at Laodicea

In Revelation 3:15-16, God speaks to the church at Laodicea with words that should make every believer pause: "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth."

That's strong language. God would rather you be cold—completely away from Him—than lukewarm. Why? Because lukewarm is deceptive. It's the illusion of commitment without the reality of transformation. It's going through the motions while your heart is somewhere else entirely.

Think about lukewarm coffee. It's neither refreshing like cold coffee nor comforting like hot coffee. It's just... unpleasant. Nobody wants it. It serves no purpose.

The Lukewarm Life

Lukewarmness shows up in every area of life. In relationships, you can feel when someone's heart isn't fully in it anymore. They're not ready to leave, but they're not really present either. The passion is gone, replaced by obligation or routine.

The same thing happens in our walk with God. We still show up occasionally. We still claim the title of Christian. But the fire is gone. The urgency has faded. The joy has been replaced by duty.

God knows our frame. He remembers that we are dust. He understands that we get distracted, that life gets complicated, that passion can wane. But understanding doesn't mean accepting. He calls us to fan the flame, to stir up the gift that's within us, to never forget our first love.

Never Forget Where He Found You

One of the most dangerous things we can do is forget where God brought us from. When we get comfortable in our salvation, when we forget the pit He pulled us out of, we start to take His grace for granted.

Jesus is not our homeboy. He's not our buddy we casually dap up in the morning. He is the Lord of Lords and the King of Kings. He is God Almighty. Yes, He calls us friends, but He is still holy, still worthy of reverence, still deserving of our wholehearted devotion.

Revelation 2:4 warns us to never forget our first love. Don't get so familiar with Jesus that you forget what He saved you from. Remember the transformation. Remember the deliverance. Remember the miracle of salvation.

The Power You Possess

Here's something the enemy doesn't want you to know: he hates you because he can't create. Satan was created perfect in beauty and wisdom. He understands science, strategy, and spiritual warfare. But there's one thing he cannot do—create.

You, on the other hand, are made in the image of the Creator. Life and death are in the power of your tongue. You have the ability to speak things into existence, just like your Heavenly Father did when He spoke the world into being.

Why don't you give it a shot? Stop speaking defeat and start declaring victory. Stop agreeing with your circumstances and start prophesying your future. You have not because you ask not—and when you do ask, ask for things that matter.

Hot, Cold, or Lukewarm?

So where are you today? Are you on fire for Jesus, passionate about His presence, hungry for His word? Are you cold, far from God and knowing it? Or are you lukewarm—comfortable, complacent, going through the motions?

If you're lukewarm, it's time for a change. God is calling you back to your first love, back to that place of passion and purpose. He's inviting you to stir up the gift within you, to fan the flame, to pursue Him with everything you have.

Don't settle for lukewarm Christianity. Don't be satisfied with showing up occasionally and checking the box. God deserves more. You were created for more.

Wake up every morning and pray, "Stir it up in me, Jesus. Stir up the passion, the fire, the hunger for You."

Because in the end, lukewarm won't cut it. God is looking for believers who are all in, who love Him with their whole heart, who refuse to compromise or coast.

The question is simple: are you hot, cold, or lukewarm?

Your answer determines everything.