Beware Lukewarmness

 

Just beginning to walk through the Book of Isaiah, and I thought it would be instructive to get a little background concerning the times in which this book was written. Context is always a good thing when meditating on the Scriptures!

 

Isaiah prophesied (was the Lord’s mouthpiece) during the reign of 4 kings in the southern kingdom of Judah. 3 of the 4 kings were “good,” meaning they sought to do what was right in the sight of the Lord.  Three of the four kings were blessed with times of prosperity and security, yet during Jotham’s reign, the people “acted corruptly.” 2Ch 27:2 says this about Jotham, “And he did what was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Uzziah had done (although he did not enter the temple of the LORD). But still the people acted corruptly.”

 

The word “corruptly,” means “to decay.” Let’s allow that word to sink in a little. Good times were rolling, the borders were secure, and the people got morally lackadaisical. Spiritual decay was setting in, and the putrid smell of decay, in the form of moral decay was wafting up to the nostrils of God…and when that happens, God typically sends judgment in an attempt to get our attention, so that we might turn back to Him.

 

The first time this word “corrupt,” shows up in Scripture is found in Ge 6:11 just before God called people to repentance through Noah. “The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.” The people “stunk” but God always warns us before He sends judgment, and so Noah preached righteousness for 120 years, but the people ignored him, and therefore God judged the world with the great flood.

 

So now we see, the necessity of sending Isaiah to Judah…the people were “acting corruptly.” They needed to be warned about His impending judgment and they needed to be told the way of escape. There is never a greater need for prophets, than when the good times are rolling!

 

Am 6:1 puts it this way: “Woe to you who are at ease in Zion,”

 

Given the state of things in our nation today, I’d say we need prophets! We need a call away from corruption. A call away from spiritual decay, and lackadaisical morality. Beware of spiritual lukewarmness in your own life, lest the Lord spew you out. Re 3:16 "So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.