It is one thing to be hot and another to be cold. But those who are lukewarm are particularly despicable. We expect evil people to act wickedly. After all, that is their nature. Conversely, we should be able to expect God’s people to behave righteously. That is, after all, what God intends for them to behave like. Yet sometimes they do not.
There are many reasons why Christians compromise their beliefs and values. Sometimes they simply succumb to the world’s temptations. Some yield to the pressure placed on them by others. Others, in a misguided belief they must “tolerate” evil people, may inadvertently allow themselves to be manipulated. Some may simply choose not to hate what God hates. Contamination does not always happen overnight. Sometimes it is a slow process. The reasons for compromise are legion.
What could be more frustrating than for a thirsty person to stumble upon a contaminated spring? At a distance, the water offers hope of refreshment and revival. But up close, its filth produces deep disappointment and loss. From a distance, your life may appear righteous. But how does it look when people draw close?