Watch therefore, and pray always that we may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man. Luke 21:34-36 (NKJV)
If not connected to the Lord in faith, we are all in danger of becoming spiritually empty and dormant.
The church at Sardis, one of seven addressed in the Book of Revelation, was well past its expiration date and was now dying. Sardis once had a reputation as a faithful and loving servant church of Christ, but at this point, it was anything but. This body of believers was cut off at the roots – the oil of the Holy Spirit was no longer flowing through and circulating to give it spiritual vitality. Some remnants of its past devotion to God gave it the false appearance of life, but even these vestiges were now fading away.
Christ’s message through the apostle John issued a blunt warning – turn around now! In this, He was also extending to them a lifeline, an opportunity to repent and be fully restored in the faith.
John penned Jesus’ message to the church:
1 To the angel of Messiah’s community in Sardis write: “Thus says the One having the seven spirits of God and the seven stars: I know your deeds—you have a reputation for being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up, and strengthen what remains that was about to die. For I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of My God. 3 So remember what you have received and heard—keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come upon you.
4 “But still, you have a few people in Sardis who have not stained their clothes. They will walk with Me in white, because they are worthy. 5 The one who overcomes thus will be dressed in white clothes; I will never blot his name out of the Book of Life, and will confess his name before My Father and His angels. 6 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Ruach is saying to Messiah’s communities. Revelation 3:1-6 (TLV)
(Ruach is a Hebrew word referring to the Holy Spirit, the divine breath of life.)
We can all learn something from Jesus’ serious warning to the church at Sardis – for example, what is the current condition of our own walk with Christ?
Are we living off of a past intimacy with Him, having pulled the plug on present-day prayer and worship? When is the last time we took a hard look at our spiritual life, noting our sins and failures, grieving them and coming to Jesus to confess our sin for His complete forgiveness? Is our conscience alive and active, or has it been seared shut through neglect? Is the Holy Spirit still stirring in our heart, leading us to be strengthened in faith, and spiritually nourished by the Bible, the word of God?
None of us is perfect. We all have times when we are not being our best, or feel distant from God. The Lord loves us despite this, and only asks us to turn back to Him, inviting us once again to lay our burdens at the foot of the cross.
Jesus wants us to be alive and thriving, including Him in our daily lives. It then becomes our joy to join Him, asking “How may I serve alongside You today, Lord?”
Reflection
Perhaps you are new to faith, having been attracted to the goodness of God, but have never asked Jesus into your heart. It is a wonderful moment to do just that. Invite Him in – He will gladly come and bring you into His eternal kingdom. Then join us as we seek to plug into Him each day.
We pray:
Lord, we all fail at times to live the way You would have us to. We confess our sins and shortcomings and bring them to Jesus. In love, You died on a cross and rose from the dead to redeem us from our death and sin. Father, help us to walk with Christ in reverence day and night, and to do His will now and throughout eternity. We ask all this in Jesus’ precious name, Amen.
Have a blessed and beautiful day in the Lord today!
1 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all that is within me,
bless his holy name!
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits,
3 who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
5 who satisfies you with good
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. Psalm 103:1-5 (ESV)
Times and Seasons - The Book of Revelation FOR TODAY 