I have a confession to make – I absolutely hate the cold. I’m not talking about high 20’s, low 30’s cold; I’m talking teens and single-digit cold. The kind of cold that causes you to hurt all over just by looking out your window, and that freezes your nose hairs in seconds when you go out in it. When it comes right down to it, I hate the cold because I see absolutely no benefit of it to my life. In no way is my life any better when I am cold. Therefore, I don’t do a very good job at tolerating it in my life.
On the other hand, Carol and I just spent a week in
Sadly, while these are my very adamant feelings regarding cold and hot outdoor temperatures, there is a cold that I do tolerate much more in my life. Like the cold outside right now, this cold brings absolutely no benefit to my life. Yet, I don’t seem to hate it as much as I do the ice cold temperatures of winter. The cold that I am referring to, of course, is spiritual coldness; and if anything, I should absolutely hate being spiritually cold.
Let me give you a few reasons why:
First, because God hates it when we are spiritually lukewarm. (Rev.3:15-16)
Second, because it means it is impossible for me to be carrying out the command to be growing spiritually. (II Pet. 3:18)
Third, because it means I am unable to help a fellow brother or sister in Christ who may be battling with spiritual coldness in their life. (Ecc.4:9-12)
Are you more upset about the temperature outside than with the temperature of your own heart? If you are cold spiritually, I hope you will begin to hate it enough to do something about it. Something like basking in the presence of God’s Son, and truth concerning his incredible sacrifice on your behalf, to warm your heart. Or like surrounding yourself with the warmth of other Christ-followers in their worship of God to warm your heart. You don’t have to remain cold; the choice is yours.
Pastor Scott