Dangers of Indifference
15“‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. (Revelation 3)
Reasons for that 40 inch waist and that blood test report of high triglycerides and cholesterol out of whack, and that fasting blood sugar level that’s kind of on the high side of normal. Well, those probably didn’t happen overnight. Now, if you are diagnosed as a Type I or II diabetic, a normal blood sugar level is something you’re going to need a Doctor’s help to get under control. But for those of us who are borderline pre-diabetes or borderline metabolic syndrome these are commonly lifestyle choices or more likely lifestyle ruts we’ve fallen into and can’t seem to find our way out.
“’I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot!”
Change is hard. Well meaning plans to eat better and exercise regularly fall to the wayside far too quickly. Eating less, yet better is the like the old saw about quitting smoking. “Quitting is easy. I’ve done it hundreds of times.” So goes the commitment to changing eating habits and leaving the fast food alone, and eating multiple servings of vegetables and fruit everyday. There’s more to it than saying you want to do it. You have to do it and not just for a day or two. It has to be forever. Indifference to our eating habits and the quantity of food we ingest everyday is where most of us are at. We are neither hot nor cold about changing our lives, mostly indifferent and hoping change happens without putting us out at all.
“In our data, higher BMI and lower HDL cholesterol were the most highly significant nonglucose predictors of hyperglycemic progression. Higher triglycerides and systolic blood pressure were also consistently significant risks. Previous studies have shown that this constellation of risk factors plus hyperglycemia—known as the metabolic syndrome—is predictive of diabetes, probably because of the glucose component.”
Progression From Newly Acquired Impaired Fasting Glusose to Type 2 Diabetes
Gregory A. Nichols, PHD Teresa A. Hillier, MD, MS Jonathan B. Brown, PHD, MPP
This study goes along with what was written earlier. Indications of future problems are there for each of us to see. Denial of the evidence or a belief that it won‘t happen to me is common. That test during a routine physical that shows a blood glucose of 100mg/dl while still a normal blood sugar level, is elevated enough that if the other indicators of trouble are also on the test it will spell trouble in the future. The answer to a lower BMI is weigh less. BMI is figured off of your height and weight and unless you are an athlete or do significant weight training is a good indicator of general wellness. “I’m just big-boned or “It’s mainly muscle,” just won’t cut it, especially if you are over fifty.
16So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.
This passage from Revelation speaks to the early Christian church about the dangers of spiritual indifference leading to destruction. High BMI, low HDL cholesterol, higher triglycerides are a warning sign to persons that things need to change before the onset of diabetes, when reversal of those indicators will be much more difficult. This early church was in danger of being “spit out” because of indifference to Christ and his message. Studies show that indifference to the warning signs indicated in previous paragraphs will result in good health being “spit out” by a higher than normal blood sugar level and resulting diabetes.