Laodicea was a wealthy city that seemingly had everything. It also had one monumental problem. It had no source of its own fresh water. It sat on the shores of a river thick with white mud and its water undrinkable. Laodicea had to pipe in its water from miles away. Even this piped in water became so full of bitter minerals, that those unaccustomed to it wanted to hurl.
Laodiceans could look six miles away and see the famous hot springs of Hierapolis. Its white terraced pools of hot cascading water could easily be seen across the valley. This hot water was prized for its reputed healing qualities.
Meanwhile, ten miles to the southeast sat Colossae with its fresh, cold water. It was pure, life-giving, and delicious. Both hot and cold water served their own good purpose. Laodicea, however, had only tepid, nauseating water. The church in Laodicea was likewise neither cold nor hot.