Seek ShalomSýnishorn

SHALOM WITH GOD

Have you ever been so disgusted by something you drank that you spit it out of your mouth? I was doing an Amazon search one day for sodas, and I discovered some unusual drinks for sale in the United States:

• Bacon Soda
• Ranch Dressing Soda
• Grass Soda
• Pink Pepsi (strawberry & milk flavored)
• Onion Coke

Would you be willing to try any of these? While I’ll admit that these drinks sound terrible, I don’t think I would immediately spit them out. I probably wouldn’t take a second sip.

But sometimes, something is so disgusting that we spit it out of our mouths, even if it’s not the best display of good manners at that moment. An almost involuntary reaction sweeps over us, and we spew it out. We can’t help ourselves.

In Revelation 3, Jesus says this is his response to the church at Laodicea. The church must have left a bad taste in Jesus’ mouth if he was willing to spit them out.

“I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!”

I grew up believing that this biblical text about hot and cold was a metaphor for our spiritual temperature. To be “hot” meant to be “on fire” and passionate for God, and to be “cold” meant to be “cold-hearted” and far from God. To be “lukewarm” meant to be “meh” and indifferent in my relationship with God. I was taught that Jesus’ central message here – “I wish that you were either hot or cold” - was that it would be better for humans to either be “on fire” for God or be an atheist - “cold and distant” - than to be a lukewarm Christian that was a middle-of-the-road believer.

What if it wasn’t a metaphor about our spiritual temperature, but was a geographical allusion rooted in Laodicea's historical context?

Laodicea was situated between two other cities – Hierapolis to the north and Colossae to the south.

Hierapolis was known for its hot springs; some even believed the waters had healing powers.

Colossae was home to cold springs, and people traveled there to enjoy their cool and refreshing waters.

But Laodicea had neither hot springs nor cold springs. Their water supply was provided from Colossae by an aqueduct system. As the water traveled the six-mile journey from Colossae to Laodicea along the open stone aqueduct system, the water would become warm and often undrinkable because of the contaminants it would acquire along the way.

When Jesus said to the Laodiceans that you are neither hot nor cold, it was in reference to the healing waters of the north and the refreshing waters of the south. Both were good and profitable. When Jesus called the Laodiceans lukewarm, he was comparing their faith to the tepid and undrinkable water of their city that residents would often spit from their mouths because of how disgusting it was to their lips.

Jesus chastised them for a Christianity that was as offensive as their water supply.

Why? The answer is found in verse 17:

“You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.”

Their self-reliance left a bad taste in Jesus’ mouth.

We live in a culture in which self-reliance is applauded. We admire the self-made man and woman. We celebrate the stories of those who pull themselves up by their bootstraps. We cheer for those who set out to make it on their own, turn down a helping hand, and determine to be the captains of their ships. In short, we are a self-reliant people and proud of it.

But Jesus says our self-reliance makes us like lukewarm water. Despite what we may want to believe, according to Jesus, self-reliance doesn’t make us strong; it makes us sick.

Our self-reliance robs us of our self-reflection. Jesus criticized the Laodicean church, noting that because of their self-reliance – because of their belief that they “don’t need a thing!” They didn’t even realize their true state as “wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.”

What does it look like to seek shalom with God? It means abandoning our self-reliance and putting our complete trust in Jesus.

Jesus plus nothing equals everything.

But, like Laodicea, we want to add to the equation.

Jesus plus my significant other equals everything.

Jesus plus my career goals equals everything.

Jesus plus athletic success equals everything.

Jesus plus my social status equals everything.

Jesus plus making money equals everything.

Jesus plus ________________ equals everything.

How do you fill in the blank?

When we rely solely on ourselves, we fail to realize our true condition as wretched and poor and naked and blind. But this is Jesus’ promise to the Laodiceans and us if we’ll commit ourselves fully to Him:

“So I advise you to buy gold from me—gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. Also buy white garments from me so you will not be shamed by your nakedness, and ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see.”

God will provide for us. He will cover our shame. He will give us a clear vision of ourselves and our world.

Shalom is a four-peace puzzle.

Jesus plus nothing equals everything.

Surrender your self-reliance and allow the Lord to be your source and your guide.

Take hold of the first peace.

REFLECTION

How do you experience peace with God? What causes that to be disrupted? In what ways do you tend toward self-reliance?