inspired by Francis Chan's sermon "Lukewarm and Loving it."
Ice Mocha
People who reject God completely or don't know about him.
Life in America. The American Dream. Many families are struggling in the rough economy, but we fail to realize that we still make 100 times more than what over 1/2 of the world makes. The sad thing is that being rich puts us at a huge disadvantage to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
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Room temperature coffee
Luke 18:18-26.
"A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’ “All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said. When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy. Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”
But there is hope for us.
Hot Coffee
Luke 19:5-10.
" When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
Zacchaeus got it. He understood and salvation came to him. His riches were not worth more than the Kingdom of Heaven. He gave them up with GREAT JOY. He jumped out of the tree. Will we be blinded by our stuff? Will we be like the rich man and walk away from Jesus sad because we are comfortable living the way we are? Money does weird things to people. Will we find our security in God or in money? Sure it's easier to depend on the money…in this life, but what about heaven?!
Revelation 3:15-18
"I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 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."
Am I hot coffee? Or an ice mocha? Or am I the coffee that has sat out for awhile and is no longer hot but is acciedently sipped then immediately spit out? Do I taste disgusting to God? Am I that lukewarm coffee? Will I get spit out of his mouth? Do I make him gag? I sure hope I don't. I don't want to depend on money to meet my daily needs, but on God and I know that will be a difficult adjustment. Stuff is just that…it's stuff and it's not going with me when I am gone.
