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Laodicea Water Day 33
"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)
Wealthy Laodicea
"Laodicea" was the wealthiest of the seven cities. (See Laodicea coins to the right.) It was renowned for its banking industry, manufacture of wool, and a medical school that produced eye ointment. It exported fine woolen garments and was famous for its eye ointments.
"Laodicea" was a great banking and financial centre. When Cicero was travelling in Asia Minor, it was at Laodicea that he cashed his letters of credit. It was one of the wealthiest cities in the world.
In A.D. 61, Laodicea was devastated by an earthquake; but so rich and independent were its citizens that they refused any help from the Roman government and out of their own resources rebuilt their city. No wonder that Laodicea could boast that it was rich and had amassed wealth and had need of nothing. It was so wealthy that it did not even feel it needed God.
Lukewarm Water
The city had always had a problem with its water supply, it was "lukewarm." Its neighbor, Hierapolis, had hot springs used for healing and Colossae had streams of refreshing cold pure water. At one time, a six-mile long aqueduct (See the Laodicean aqueduct to the right) was built to bring water to the city from the hot springs. But by the time the water reached the city, it was neither hot enough for a bath nor cool enough to drink, just lukewarm! It was neither healing nor refreshing! Who could stomach it? The church had become as bland as the tepid water that entered it. "I am about to spit you out of my mouth," says Jesus.
Laodicea Clothing
Laodicea was a great centre of clothing manufacture. The sheep which grazed round Laodicea were famous for their soft, violet-black, glossy wool. It mass-produced cheap outer garments.
The words of the Risen Christ arise directly from the prosperity and the skill in which Laodicea took so much pride and which had in the minds of its citizens, and even of its Church, eliminated the need for God.
Meditation
Is your life neither hot nor cold?
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