Three Types of Christians
November 2, 2011
After attending an international revival for a period of about a week (in the Spring of 2008), the Lord revealed something to me (never before could I have said that God had revealed something specifically for my benefit). Here’s what He impressed upon me. There are three classes of Christians: those who are hungry for God, those who aren’t hungry but don’t realize it, and those who aren’t hungry but are aware of their state.
As I was driving home from one of those revival services (I would eventually attend 58 nights of this six-month “awakening”), the Lord brought this truth to my attention. And I realized that I was in the third category of this comparison. And I think I knew it consciously or subconsciously all along. I also believe my spiritual “lack of appetite” was the reason why I sought out this revival. I wanted to get out of my lukewarm state. I was troubled that I was satisfied with my current “middle-of-the-road” spiritual condition.
In the book of Revelation, we are warned of lukewarmness and its consequences. John, quoting the Lord, writes: “‘To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth’” (Revelation 3:14-16). The thought that one could be so repulsive to Jesus that He (the Lord) would be sick to His stomach is hard to fathom. I am so glad that the Lord led me to a place where He helped me rid myself of this stale spiritual condition.
Here’s the good news. Jesus told us, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled” (Matthew 5:6). This promise that the Lord gave us is one of the most encouraging words of Scripture. And I thank God that He helped me to see my own spiritual deficiency. God is amazing, and “great is [His] faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:23).
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