As I drove to church yesterday morning through the mess of our driveway and lane, I got an up close view of these verses in Revelations 3.

I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of My mouth.
– Revelations 3:15-16

On one side of the lane, the side with an abundance of shade from the surrounding woods, snow remained from a storm that cancelled school most of last week. The other side of the lane, warmed by the sun, was finally clear with grass showing. In between was the mud and ice pit drive that we had to slosh and swerve through to get to the county road.

It’s the middle, lukewarm path that’s often the biggest mess.

God says that He wishes we were hot or cold, but not in-between. Looking at my road, that makes sense.

God wants us to make our choice, not fake our choice. He longs for us to decide to follow Him with our whole hearts, with all that we are. He wants our full commitment, no matter what. He doesn’t want us to pretend we are His, and then skip out on what’s important to Him because it’s not convenient. God doesn’t give us His Son’s name so we can act like it’s a secret or it doesn’t matter. It does. He does. Splashing in the lukewarm water may be fun for a time, until our souls are caked in mud and our shoes are stuck in the slushy, filthy potholes of life.

Thankfully God knew our propensity to be drawn into the mud puddles, and He sent us the Light of the World and the Living Water. When we look to His Son for rescue and healing, His light dries up the soggy ruts in our hearts, and then He power washes us clean.

Be gracious to me, God,
according to Your faithful love;
according to Your abundant compassion,
blot out my rebellion.
Wash away my guilt
and cleanse me from my sin.

God, create a clean heart for me
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
– Psalm 51:1-2, 10

As for my driveway, I’m looking forward to the sun drying out the mess so I can get a car wash.