Have you ever gotten to know someone romantically and as the conversation came to advance the relationship the person says something to the effect of “let’s see where it can go”? Well what this really means is they are on the fence about it. More importantly they show you through saying this, that they cannot give you a yes or no or make any clear definitive line on where the relationship is headed. This may be because there is someone else or more commonly the opportunity of a someone else is taken away when the relationship lines are definitive.
This is the period of time where any peace that existed ends and confusion begins. Instantly indifference is birthed when someone responds this way to the other party showing that the one who uttered those words was already indifferent. At this point the receiver guards themselves emotionally because this lack of clarity or direction signaled that there could be a breach of emotional safety and the relationship is open for compromise.
In Matthew 5:37 it tells us to let our yes be yes and our no be no, and anything more is from the evil one. So when serious decisions are not met with yes or no and there is an element of vagueness or long words that give you a clear answer you are entering into the gray zone.. the blurred lines…. The fence so to speak. This is exactly what lukewarm is describing. Not hot or cold but in the middle. The riding the fence into oblivion where nothing is accomplished just delayed. There are people who reserve the two most important areas of their lives for the fence and those areas are usually God and marital affairs.
Having said that, the fence is the safe zone for the enemy. The souls that are lukewarm are free from the kingdom of heaven so Satan spends little to no time monitoring those who have yet to pick a side. They believe but delay purpose, the accept some biblical principles but reject those they view as outdated and inconvenient like sobriety and purity. The fence is a designated post of stagnation. As a double minded man is unstable in all his ways a double minded man is a confused undecided person who has capped his own capacity and so how can the creator who created this vessel for purpose now use this vessel for that purpose when their free will is wrapped in indecision? He can’t…
Demons believe in God too so not much is to be said about the one who believes because little is accomplished with belief and no fruit. The fence rider works for the enemy because they won’t be very receptive to the road of consecration that God requires because they cannot fathom not being able to no longer “just do them”. When this is the case they inadvertently tell God “I can’t commit to you because I see a better way to get to you” or “I’ll get to you later God” or when questioned on their walk or relationship with God this person may commonly reply with “God knows my heart”. As if God is not the author of time and they are.
Do you see why Jesus said he will spit the lukewarm out of his mouth (Rev 3:16) ? These will be the ones He never knew. The ones that road the fence… the bench warmers at the church that didn’t bear the fruit he needed them to. They thought they could have God and their idols. Their favorite singer and gospel music. But just as you are unable to build a life with someone on the fence is the same way you cannot build a relationship with the Most High.
The benchwarmer at church holds a seat there but lacks the fire that comes with being sold out. The fence rider is interesting because they can consistently go to church, have a bible app but they lack the courage to develop their relationship. They lack the spiritual discipline that it takes to pick a side that is required to start and fulfill their assignment. I used to think the lukewarm was harmless until I spent too much time around them and I see that the enemy thoroughly uses them because not picking a side by default is choosing the devil.
You can’t really have one foot in and one out with God because at the slight blow of a good breeze you will blow wherever the wind takes you. So the indecision represents indifference and though you were once a strong believer a few years in a lukewarm space lends to the great falling away.
Steer clear of the indifferent because even if you are firm in your posture they will influence you to adopt their same on the fence/ lukewarm perspective. The creator that created you and your life for purpose, not so you can remain indifferent and ride the fence. But know that this is a dangerous place to be and the author of time is the only one who knows when your number is up. You don’t want to be caught in this zone when that time comes and the God who you said knew your heart will be the same one who said “I never knew you”.