Bitter/Sweets: Laodicea

"To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this: 'I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. 'So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. 'Because you say, "I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing," and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and {that} the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. 'Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent. 'Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. 'He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. 'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'"
{Revelation 3:14-22 NAS}

(Photo borrowed from: BiblePlaces.com)

From the photograph provided: it would appear that there is not much left of the ancient city of Laodicea, which is located in the southeastern part of what is now the nation of Turkey; and according unto the information provided on turizm.net: it is true. For a series of earthquakes devastated the city over a period of several hundred years.

Not that any of that really matters for the purposes at hand. For what the Lord Jesus Christ was addressing unto the church there is a state of mind; and the message given is just as viable today as it was back then{1}.

Perhaps you have heard something or another about it? I cannot imagine anyone in the Christian community who has not—other than those who are very new members{2}, of course; and even in many of those cases: they have probably heard a lot more than they may have understood at the time{3}. For it is certainly a popular subject to preach about.

Tragically: there is good reason for that. For it is quite natural of us to think that the way things appear to have always been is just the way it is—perhaps even the way it should be; but that is a very dangerous state of mind to be in{4}.

No, this is not another call for an end unto what is often referred unto as being institutionalized religion. For our Heavenly Father established His church in the name of His only begotten Son{5} to serve as reflection of His Light{6} in a world deeply steeped in the darkness of spiritual ignorance: much in the same way as a globe reflects the light of a lamp{7}.

Neither is this a call for an end unto the teaching of doctrine. For it is impossible to truly believe in something if you do not know what it is; and doctrine is meant to help with that—even in the case of a very close and personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ{8}.

In other words: there is no reason to throw the baby out with the bathwater (so to speak). For in many cases: just a change in perspective is all that is required{9}.

It is, however, in those changes of perspective that the foundations of many religious institutions begin to crumble. For it truly is as it is written: For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.{10}

Yes, it sounds like just another futile exercise in semantics. For common sense dictates that a vine{11} cannot grow in worthless soil{12}.

Subsequently: many look at the church that they are in as being obvious proof of being in rich soil; but be assured that not all is as it seems. For come Judgment Day{13}: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”{14}

Therefore: let us listen closely unto what our Heavenly Father’s Holy Spirit has to say unto the churches: even now in this day and age of post-modern sophistication{15}. For it would be better to swallow our pride while we still can than to have to taste its bitterness for all of eternity{16}.

[{1}Romans 15:4; {2}1 Corinthians 12:12-27; {3}1 Corinthians 2:6-16; {4}Proverbs 14:12; {5}Matthew 16:13-28; {6}John 8:12; {7}Matthew 5:14-16; {8}2 Timothy 4:2-4; {9}John 7:24; {10}1 Corinthians 3:11 NAS; {11}John 15:1-6; {12}Matthew 13:1-23; {13}Revelation 20:11-15; {14}Matthew 7:21-23 NIV; {15}Job 33:14-30; {16}Proverbs 16:18]