Jimmy Carter: He didn’t forget his campaign workers

Who stayed here?

Suppose you wanted to run for President, just where would you start? If I were from, let’s say, Virginia, how would I reach out to someone in let’s say, Idaho? In today’s internet world it might be a little easier, but if you are in the pre-internet days it would probably have been a lot harder. I can see it now, “Mom, there is some weirdo standing at the door who says he wants to be the next President and he wants to talk to you.”

Throughout our history there have been individuals who have struggled with an identity crisis like that. Little known outside their own state or their own town, they could walk freely in other towns or states without even being noticed. Sure, some may make it to the news for 15 minutes or so with some idea or something they have done and then simply fade from the spotlight a short time later. Some may even win an early primary or be a front runner, only to fade with an awkward comment or something coming up about their past. But there have been rare instances where someone comes out of nowhere and a few months later has a moving van full of their stuff sitting in front of the big white house on 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington DC.

I’m not a coffee drinker, but boy do I love my tea. On a cold winter day there is nothing better than pouring a little honey in a cup, squeezing a little lemon in there, throwing in a flavored tea bag and a black tea bag, putting in some water and sticking it in the microwave for a little bit. Then head to the couch, pick up the paper, and take a sip of that hot tea every now and then. Yes, that’s a very nice moment there. Of course, when I go out to dinner I have to have my iced tea. And who can’t go down south and have a glass of cold sweet tea. If for no other reason than the way they say it, you have to try it. But if that same tea sits a little while and gets lukewarm, it can be one of the nastiest drinks you have ever had.

There was an ancient city named Laodicea. It sat inside the present country of Turkey in Asia. It was originally called Diospolis or the “City of Zeus.” It was a very wealthy city with a taste for the Greek culture. Paul mentions it several times in the book of Colossians. But they are perhaps better known as one of the seven cities that had churches mentioned in the first few chapters of the book of Revelation. These seven churches are referred to as the seven gold lampstands.

Laodicea also had an elaborate aqueduct water system that flowed from the hot springs into their city. As the water flowed through the system, it got to the city and it was lukewarm. Jesus, via John, speaks to this church and the other six churches, in Revelation. In Jesus’ description of the church in Laodicea He calls them lukewarm. Just like my lukewarm tea, this was not meant as a compliment. In fact, He says He would spit them out because lukewarm is not good at all. He said he would rather have them hot or cold to Him rather than he would have them be lukewarm to him. I’m sure the Laodicea people well understood his example.

He then has a little bit of advice for them that seems almost out of place. That advice is the lead in verse: Revelation 3:20.

There once was a candidate who told the story of his election. Not very well known outside of his home state he ventured into distant states and started knocking on doors. One problem with this strategy is there are a lot of doors in America. So he enlisted the help of his family. Wanting to be a different type of candidate, he split up his family and each went in a different direction throughout the country so they could cover more territory. His wife rarely even traveled with him so they could cover more turf. Being unknown, one of the first problems that surfaces is the lack of money. He had one simply rule for his family: “No one stayed in a hotel without paying the bill personally.” This personal sacrifice was probably something even the most loyal family member could not afford. So they looked for host families that would “take us in for the night.”

Imagine these host families surprise when Jimmy Carter invited them all to the White House the first week he became President. More than 700 people attended. Each was given a brass plaque that said, “A member of the Carter family spent the night here.”

One day when our journey ends, we too are going to receive one of two invitations. That invitation is going to be based on who stayed in that house we call our heart. And when we get to that mansion that is waiting for us, I bet there is a very special wall we can put our brass plaque that says, “A member of God’s family spent their life here.” And make sure you bring your hot cup of tea with you because nothing lukewarm will be allowed up there.