Side effects

You’ve seen them. The commercials for drugs that will improve whatever your health issue is. Then while they are showing happy people living life to its fullest, they drop the side effects on you. Most of the times the side effects from the drug are way worse than your initial health issue. They say rare but potentially serious problems may arise that require immediate medical attention. They let you know this is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. And then my personal favorite, death may occur. Really? Death? I think I’ll stick with my original issue thank you very much.

Please do not continue reading if you are eating right now. I’m just giving you fair warning.

Two common side effects are nausea and vomiting. These are listed as side effects in at least 73 different drugs!

Did you know that the side effect of vomiting is even in the Bible? “’In know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth.’” (Rev. 3:16 [RSV]) Another word for spew is vomit.

I know when I put something in my mouth, expecting it to be cold or hot, and it is lukewarm, I act on reflex, I open my mouth and let it fall out. I hope it is not too nasty that I gag and vomit. (See I warned you!)

Defined, lukewarm is moderately warm, tepid, halfhearted, not enthusiastic. Knowing this, I do not want to be lukewarm. I do not want to cause Jesus any side effects to where He has to vomit me out. I want to be wholehearted in all I do for Him. In Deuteronomy, it says Caleb followed the LORD wholeheartedly. In Eph 6:7 also tells us to serve wholeheartedly.

“I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever.” (Ps. 86:12 [NIV])

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” (Prov. 35 [NIV])

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jer. 29:13 [NIV])

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” (Matt. 22:37 [NIV])

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men…” (Col. 3:3 [NIV])

There are at least nine verses that include the word vomit in the Bible. These verses use the word to convey the message that you are ridiculing and defiling yourself with sin. Wallowing in it. Not caring enough about yourself to get up out of it and clean yourself up. You don’t mind being lukewarm and apathetic. It is an easier and more comfortable place to live, than serving God wholeheartedly. Continue to do so at your own peril. Those nine verses are a warning that if you choose to live that way, you are going to be vomited out! They are putting you on notice that there is still time to change and seek God with your whole heart.

I personally hate being sick and throwing up. It is not pleasant in any way. If I hate it and it is just me being sick, I cannot even begin to imagine how sick Jesus must feel with all the lukewarm people in His mouth. So let’s clean up and live with our whole hearts so we are not a horrible side effect to Jesus.

There, it is safe now. You may now resume eating.

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