“So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” Revelation 3:16 NIV

          Mastering the ability to compromise was a difficult process for me in some areas of my life because I did not consistently weigh my own needs appropriately. There have been times that I have placed more importance on the wants of others, and subsequently abandoned my own needs. Then, there have been times that I have been quite selfish and others have suffered because of decisions that I have made. Although I have learned that you must be your best advocate, I have also learned a true demonstration of caring for someone means that there are times that you must compromise. But there are times when compromising can be dangerous.

          When it comes to nurturing one’s spiritual well-being, compromising is the worst thing you can do. In a world that promotes doing whatever feels good, the right thing to do will be based upon the current trend. There is nothing stable about trends, so the stability of your spiritual health comes from having truth as your foundation. And according to John 14:6, Jesus is that truth.

          The truth isn’t always pretty, nor is it easy to live by. However, being and living by truth provides healthy boundaries that will prevent you from residing in the gray areas of uncertainty that lead to demise. In Revelation 3:16 we see that the members of the church of Laodicea being spiritually lukewarm has resulted in an undesirable taste for God. Take a moment to imagine a cup of water. Most people would prefer to drink the water when it is either ice cold, or piping hot and prepared for coffee or tea. Not many people would view a cup of lukewarm water refreshing. When it comes to your spiritual well-being, you should have a distinctive, refreshing flavor. Your life is supposed to be different from those around you who have not made the same commitment to Christ that you have. Everything about you is supposed to model Christ, and that will sometimes put you in the position to be outcast, or even alone. But you can’t compromise your spiritual foundation for the sake of relationships, popularity, or even your comfort level, because each time that you do, you are putting your soul at risk.