SPEW

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. – REVELATION 3:15-16

Prior to the pandemic and our move to Chattanooga, most every day I would climb on the gym elliptical and/or ride the stationary bike and finish with some time on the arm bike. Usually while working out like that, I would watch a Sports related show on the gym monitor and jam out to some of my favorite music while keeping an eye on the distance I had gone, the calories burned, the steps taken.

I’m not sure why it is, but I have this habit that when one of the monitors gets to 659, 660, 661, I’ll watch it right up until it gets to 664 or 665. Then I’ll quickly turn my head and commit not to look at the monitor again until it moves on to 667 or beyond.

What’s funny is that I’m usually not aware of the monitor numbers until those set of numbers roll around again. So on any given workout, I can make that commitment not to look 2, 3 or 4 different times.

The same phenomenon happens with my car’s odometer. I’m completely unaware of the mileage until those numbers creep up.

Then I’ll watch it right up to the edge, then turn away.

Isn’t that just like us (or at least, just like me)?

Why is it that we’ll walk right to the edge of the cliff before we turn and walk away?
Why is it that we’ll straddle the line in the sand and then stop and watch?
Why it that we walk the wall that separates right from wrong, good from bad, the enemy’s way from God’s way?

Never quite crossing the line, just like I never quite look at the number. But pushing it right to the edge.

But the Bible beseeches us to “flee evil!”

Jesus Himself tells us that because we are neither hot nor cold but lukewarm
He will spew, spit, vomit us from His mouth.

Yet there we are, time and time again, right up to the edge. Pushing the boundaries and the limits, the shiny apple waiting for us to take a bite.

When will we heed the warnings? When will we stop flirting with disaster? When will we get so close to the edge that we slip and fall?

Think and pray
Our enemy, the devil, is like a lion looking for someone to devour. Wake up, O sleeper, Wake up... before you are spit out... before you fall from the edge.

Jesus, I confess my tendency to flirt with temptation and over-estimate my resolve. Thank You for Your empowering grace that provides both the conviction and the way out. Give me strength to flee from what is wrong and stand firm in the faith. Amen!

Marty Stubblefield is a husband, father, businessperson, youth coach, former college basketball player, and the Executive Vice-President of CBMC-USA. Having spent 34+ years in Banking, Bank Administration and State Government across the Southeast, he brings a different view of faith, life, and the struggles we face in the marketplace and our day-to-day lives. He has been married to Amy for 27 years, has three daughters, a son-in-law, grandson, and two Labradoodles. He blogs weekly at oldlazydog.com.