This is a very strong statement from Jesus. He really hates lukewarm, and so do I.

I like my hot food and drinks to be hot and my cold food and drinks to be very, very cold.

I use a thermal mug in the mornings for my coffee and square ice cubes in my ice tea because they don’t melt as fast as other, inferior cubes.

Lukewarm foods and drinks aren’t acceptable, and Jesus says that lukewarm spirituality isn’t acceptable either.

Athlete, let’s make some observations about what I think it means to be spiritually cold, hot or lukewarm.

What is the temperature of your relationship with the Lord?

Cold: You don’t believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. You’re spiritually dead.
Hot: You have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior. So you’re no longer dead, but alive.
Lukewarm: You know about Jesus, but you haven’t surrendered your heart to Him.

Ephesians 2:1-5, “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked … But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ.”

What temperature is your relationship with others?

Cold: You don’t think about how you treat others.
Hot: You’re selfless and love others as you love yourself.
Lukewarm: You’re self-focused and self-centered, and you only love others if they love you.

Mark 12:31, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

What temperature is your relationship to your sport?

Cold: You play sports for your own glory and success.
Hot: You play sports for the love of the game and for God’s glory.
Lukewarm: You haven’t even considered why you play sports.

Colossians 3:23,24, “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men; knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.”

Being spiritually lukewarm means working out of your own strength, trying to earn acceptance from God, loving others conditionally, sitting on the fence, trying to be a self-made saint.

Lukewarm is unacceptable because it leads to a false sense of security and ultimately death.

Friend, what’s your temperature today?