You probably aren't going to enjoy this one...

There is a fear that I struggle with that consumes me constantly. It keeps me up at night. It bothers me to my core. That fear is, how much time left do "lukewarm" Christians have?

"Lukewarm" Christians (which is an oxymoron if you think about it) attend church fairly regularly, give money (as long as it's safe and it doesn't impinge on their standard of living), choose what is popular over what is right when they are in conflict (they desire to fit in both at church and outside of church), care more about what people think of their actions (like church attendance and giving) than what God thinks of their hearts and lives, don't really want to be saved from their sin (they just want to be saved from the penalty of their sin), are moved by stories about people who do radical things for Christ (yet they do not act), rarely do they share their faith with others out of fear of being rejected or making others uncomfortable, compare themselves to others instead of Scripture, say they love Jesus and He is a part of their lives (but He isn't allowed to control their lives), they love God (but not with all their heart, soul, and strength), they love others but do not seek to love others as much as they love themselves, will serve God and others within limits, think about life on earth much more often than eternity in heaven, are thankful for their luxuries and comforts (yet rarely consider trying to give as much as possible to the poor), do whatever is necessary to keep themselves from feeling too guilty, are continually concerned with playing it safe, feel secure because they attend church, were baptized, come from a Christian family, vote Republican, or live in America, they do not live by faith, probably drink and curse less than average (but besides that, really aren't much different from an unbeliever)...THE TRUTH IS, THEIR LIVES WOULDN'T LOOK MUCH DIFFERENT IF THEY SUDDENLY STOPPED BELIEVING IN GOD.

It appears that most of the American Church is made up of "lukewarm" Christians. Unfortunately, "lukewarm" Christians will not be going to heaven.

I have really been wrestling with this: "'I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. 16 So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. 17 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...'" (Rev. 3:15-17)

Sounds familiar doesn't it? You may immediately think, "Wait. I'm not rich." The answer is yes. We almost all are rich in America. That doesn't mean that people do not go through financial turmoil, but, as far as I know, we all earn more than $2 a day (which is what 53 percent of the world earns). The Bible was written to the world, not just America.

We feel like we're really doing something great for God by going to church for one hour a week and giving reluctantly once in a while. Then, we go through a week without spending much time thinking about Him. Instead, we devote more thought to money, work, bills, people, reading, exercise, etc. How can we not think about the God who created this huge universe more than these other things? What's wrong with us?

Let me first say, I don't mean for this to cause true believers to question their salvation. Understand this, WE CAN'T EARN OUR SALVATION. Only Jesus could do that. Otherwise, no one would be able to follow Jesus. "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them" (Ephesians 2:8-10). But, Scripture does say that our actions prove if we are true believers or not. "Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself" (James 2:17). Do your works prove faith?

I know this is hard to hear. Be honest with yourself. And if you see that something needs to change, ask God. He is willing. He is waiting. He loves you so much. Confess and listen to Him. If you seek Him with your whole heart, I promise that you will find Him. I know that this may produce fear or guilt, and that is not the purpose of this message. Let your unfailing love for Jesus motivate you to pursue Him with your whole heart.