Hello Everyone,
[Calcified terra cotta water pipes in Laodicea.]
Let’s talk plumbing, sort of.
Laodicea is located in the beautiful Lycus Valley of Turkey. Colossae and Hieropolis are nearby. Laodicea was a geographically, politically, and economically significant city.
The mineral rich water brought to Laodicea left calcium deposits in the terra cotta pipes that clogged the aqueduct. Engineers added clean-out traps with stone lids to make access and cleaning easy.
Here’s a question. Where did this water come from? For a long time we have been told that hot thermal water came from Hieropolis and by the time it got to Laodicea it was lukewarm. However, no remains of any aqueduct has been found coming from Hieropolis to Laodicea. Remains of aqueducts have been found that led to other sources of water (independent of other cities). The water source appears to have been unique to Laodicea.
Oops! So much for the convenient reason of how hot water becomes lukewarm. What do we do now?
Ask another question. What did Jesus Christ mean by “lukewarm” when He rebuked the church? “So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold not hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth” (Revelation 3:16). For a long time we have been told (or assumed) and I thought that “lukewarm” meant apathy or lack of zeal toward Christ and His Church. However, I wasn’t reading the first part of our Lord’s admonition carefully. “I know thy works…” (Revelation 3:15). The Laodiceans weren’t necessarily idle or apathetic. They were busily working, Jesus acknowledged that. If “lukewarm” isn’t indifference, then what is it? Hot water accomplishes something. It soothes and heals. Cold water realizes something, too. It refreshes and satisfies. Lukewarm water does nothing. It is ineffective. It is the result of having exchanged the Living Water (of jesus Christ) for something else. That is why the picture is given of Jesus standing outside the door knocking (Revelation 3:20).
Ouch! So much for the easy answer about “lukewarm.” What do we do now?
Ask ourselves the hard question.
Jim
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