I remember the very first time I got on a motorcycle.
He is waiting for us to join him on that ride. But you know, according to his Word, he will not wait forever.
I was sitting on the bike and after having gotten used to the clutch, I kept it in first gear and gave it a little more gas.
My feet were still walking alongside but at one point I knew I needed to pick them up, commit, and trust the bike. There was no halfway point. I was either going to ride or I wasn't. Anything in-between was worthless.
Reading Revelation this morning, in the first few chapters Jesus is speaking to seven different churches.
For the church in Laodicea he has some pretty strong words.
"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." Rev 3:15-16 (NIV)
Ever taste something that bad? You spit it out of your mouth because it is repulsive to you, you don't want it in your body. That is what the Lord is saying here, and those are very sobering words.
Garages in this country are full of motorcycles with very low mileage on them. Some people buy a bike and after the investment, for whatever reason they have, they simply don't commit to riding it. They are not bikers, they just own a bike.
Churches in this country are full of people who attend on Sunday, but don't commit their entire lives to the Lord.
We may feel we can be in both worlds and be okay. "That's just me, Jesus understands..." But that is not what the Lord is saying here. He says, either we love him and we live for him, or we don't.
But you know, He loves us. He does not want to "spit us out". He desires fellowship with us.
Jesus continued to say,
"Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me." Rev 3:19-20
Last Sunday Preacher Mike said the only person we can be sure is a Christian is ourselves.
Perhaps some of us have been approaching our walks with the Lord like I was on that first ride. Sitting on the bike, dragging our feet, puttering along, not truly trusting the bike enough to ride. We wonder "Where is the joy in this riding thing? Where is the wind in my face? I've been on this for a while now and I haven't gotten anywhere!"
Time to pull our feet up and ride with the Lord.
Time to get all in.
He is waiting for us to join him on that ride. But you know, according to his Word, he will not wait forever.
