So, I realized I never wrapped up the little mini-series on Jesus' letters to the churches in Turkey.  Oops.

Laodicea was an extremely wealthy city.  They experienced great commercial and financial success.  Their textile industry was superb.  The city housed a world-famous medical center that was famous for its ear and eye balms.  Ancient historians all speak to their envy of the city that was Laodicea.  Its one and only weakness?  Their water supply.

Through the use of aqueducts, Laodicea was able to pipe in water from a cold spring in Colossae, some 10 miles away.  And they did the same for their hot water- brought in via aqueduct from a hot spring outside of Hierapolis, 6 miles from Laodicea.  By the time either made its way to the city, they were lukewarm and held just a fraction of their original usefulness.

"I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!"

Cold water is refreshing and stimulates the body and senses.  Hot water is relaxing to bathe in or use for hot liquids (teas, coffees, broths) and cleans nearly anything.  Lukewarm water?  Well, leave a glass sitting out on the counter all day and try taking a sip of it.  Jesus wasn't any different.

So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth."

It's unfortunate that there is so much emphasis on this idea of being "on fire" for Jesus.  And the corollary that says God would rather us be dead, cold, limp, and void of spiritual life than to be "lukewarm".  It's just not present in this passage.  There's an equal emphasis on being hot or cold, and there is no preference given to either.  The only thing that is in any way condemned is being lukewarm.  Why?  Because cold water is useful.  Hot water is useful.  Lukewarm water is useless, and Jesus says so are lukewarm Christians.

The people of Laodicea had become so complacent and content in their everyday lives that the lukewarm water was perfectly acceptable and not even noticed.  After all, what's a little water when one has so much wealth and the world sits before you?

"You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.  I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see."

The city that had everything it needed had become so self-sufficient, even the believers in the city were finding they relied less and less on God.  Even the city's name meant "rule of the people".  Certainly, they had no time to be bothered with God.  They could handle things just fine on their own.  This accusation put things back into perspective for the church in Laodicea.

The city of Laodicea does not appear on a map today.  The city who once had it all now does not exist beyond a few huts and some villagers living in some nearby caves.  Sure, there are lots of ruins, but even those are less frequented than many of their other 6 counterparts.  It was clear the people did not learn from this letter.  Let's hope that we do.