Insight for your “Journey across the Sky”
A View from the Nest www.eagleviews.org
Random Ramblings from the Resident Raptor

“`I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth. Rev 3:15-16 (RSV)

And Eli’jah came near to all the people, and said, “How long will you go limping with two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Ba’al, then follow him.” And the people did not answer him a word. 1 Kings 18:21 (RSV)

A lukewarm individual is always torn between two opinions and unable to come to a conclusive decision on anything. They have to wait until the consensus comes in. Poll takers form their decisions and opinions for them based upon the popular opinions and beliefs of the day. They are ever changing, never able to come to a solid conviction. They do not stand for anything and are easily led astray. A lukewarm individual will usually follow after the path  of least resistance which eventually leads to their downfall and destruction.

For the one who wavers (hesitates, doubts) is like the billowing surge out at sea that is blown hither and thither and tossed by the wind. For truly, let not such a person imagine that he will receive anything [he asks for] from the Lord, [For being as he is] a man of two minds (hesitating, dubious, irresolute), [he is] unstable and unreliable and uncertain about everything [he thinks, feels, decides]. James 1:6-8 (AMP)

When confronted to take a stand for what they believe the lukewarm quickly acquiesce and change their minds and positions so as not to appear inflexible. In doing so they loose themselves in the process, no longer an individual with individual thought, they become assimilated to the crowd. Like the name suggests lukewarm water is a mixture of hot and cold and once mixed you can no longer differentiate between the two sources.

Jesus does not want us to be lukewarm individuals for his desire for us is to follow in paths of His righteousness. We are not merely mindless sheep just going in whatever direction we are pushed. That was our state before we had an encounter with Jesus the Great Shepherd.

Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you men of double mind. James 4:8 (RSV)

He now dwells with us and has given to us His Spirit wherewith we are able to stand against  great opposition. When we take a stand for the Lord He takes a stand for us. We can not afford to be lukewarm in our walk with the Lord. He prefers we were either on fire for Him or totally cold toward Him, the Lord takes no delight in those who can not seem to make up their minds one way or the other.

And if you be unwilling to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” Josh 24:15 (RSV)

Hot or cold it’s your choice! Take a stand! Choose a side! Make a decision!

But those who are waiting for the Lord will have new strength; they will get wings like eagles: running, they will not be tired, and walking, they will have no weariness. Isaiah 40:31 (BBE)

Along for the journey

Insight for your “Journey across the Sky”

A View from the Nest www.eagleviews.org

Random Ramblings from the Resident Raptor.

“You are light for the world. A city cannot be hidden when it is located on a hill. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket. Instead, everyone who lights a lamp puts it on a lamp stand. Then its light shines on everyone in the house. In the same way let your light shine in front of people. Then they will see the good that you do and praise your Father in heaven. _{Matt 5:14-16 (GW)}

One evening I took a drive through the villages near where I live looking for Christmas lights. I would drive along until I saw lights in a neighborhood and drove in to get an up close look at those homes. They are easy to spot even from a distance. At the end of an otherwise darkened street a home decorated with even a few outside lights will stand in stark contrast to those which are not. How brightly these homes shone with their white lights decorating the rooftops and shrubbery. Even otherwise barren trees would take on new life when draped with twinkling lights.

There was not much variety from house to house for most of them used the same color lights but on occasion there were those homes adored with different colored lights and they surely looked beautiful. I am so glad God used lots and lots of color when he painted the earth.

I remember as a small boy my father would spend days putting up lights around our home, he even won awards for his Christmas decorations. It was a lot of work putting up all those decorations but it sure felt good to be singled out as a winner in a decorating contest.

It is refreshing to see this Christmas tradition continuing when many other traditions are being lost or forgotten. After all, Jesus is the Light of the World, and He came into the darkness to shine a light. Without those homes decorated for Christmas, with their bright white lights, the countryside would be dressed in darkness. There is not much to say about darkness. There really is not much beauty in it. But those homes decorated with Christmas lights had charm. They each offered up something different and yet they were much the same. They were aglow and stood in stark contrast to the dimness of those homes without light.

Did you ever stop to think, perhaps that is what God sees when He looks down from on high? He can easily spot where light lives because there would be a bright glow coming from within. Does a light  shine in your life? Do your neighbors know that your home is alight with the light of God’s love? Can anyone tell that the Light of the World lives at your address?

Now I am not trying to imply that those who did not put lights out for Christmas are non-Christian nor those who put lights out are Christian. I am just using the analogy to drive home a point. A city set on a hill and lit up can not be hid, and you should not light your light and hide it under a bushel either. That light is the light of life and was sent into the world to light the darkness. So as the darkness closes in, and the nights get darker, let your light shine brightly so all who may be seeking hope can find it.

This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine. How about you, care to light up our neighborhoods with the Light of Christmas?

But those who are waiting for the Lord will have new strength; they will get wings like eagles: running, they will not be tired, and walking, they will have no weariness. _{Isaiah 40:31 (BBE)}

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