The church at Sardis is
identified as the recipient of the fifth letter from the Lord Jesus. According to Wikipedia, “Sardis is famed in history as the place
where modern currency was invented” because its metal workers developed the
method of minting coins of pure gold and silver.
Revelation 3:1–6 “And
unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath
the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast
a name that thou livest, and art dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things
which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect
before God. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast,
and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief,
and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. Thou hast a few names
even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with
me in white: for they are worthy. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed
in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but
I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. He that hath
an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.”
Jesus identifies Himself as
possessing the fullness of God’s Spirit, the source of spiritual life, to this
church that is spiritually dead.
Evidently, there are still a few embers of life that could be fanned
into an effective flame if its people would but repent and hold fast to the
faith. In fact, the Lord states that He
knows that there are still a few true believers in Sardis that have maintained
a testimony of separation from the world and are serving in the name of God
with the heart of God.
This letter acknowledges
that the church at Sardis gives the appearance of having great spiritual
vitality because of the works they do. I
can’t help but think of the “great” churches today whose leaders are focused on
providing humanitarian aid and services to the neglect of providing for the
spiritual well-being of their members. I
can’t help it, but this thought again reminds me of the Lord’s words as
recorded in Matthew.
Matthew 7:21–23 “Not
every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of
heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will
say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in
thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And
then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work
iniquity.”
Why would He say this in
light of such works?
1 Samuel 16:7 “…for the
LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the
LORD looketh on the heart.”
God can see right
through to the motives for which we serve.
Obviously, we cannot judge the motives of others—but God can. Many good things can be done in the name of
the Lord that are actually done with selfish agendas.
It
truly is amazing that most people seem to prefer investing time in their own
works rather than investing time in fellowship with and worship of God and
resting in the work of His Son. Our works should be an outworking of our
fellowship with and worship of the Lord. It is through fellowship and
worship that we are attuned to the leading of the Spirit to serve others
according to God’s will and not our own. That leading assures us God’s
empowerment and provision through the Holy Spirit and will always glorify the
Savior—not the servant.
The Lord
encourages this body of believers to be spiritual overcomers so that their
names will not be blotted out of the Book of Life. This
indicates to me that all names are written in the book of life until they have
chosen once and for all to reject Jesus. There are so many verses that speak to God’s
desire that ALL should be saved.
2 Peter 3:9 “The
Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is
longsuffering to us-ward, not willing
that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
Ezekiel 18:23 “Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should
die? saith the Lord GOD: and
not that he should return from his ways, and live?”
1 Timothy 2:3–4 “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will
have all men to be saved, and to
come unto the knowledge of the truth.”
To say that God
has “chosen” some people to suffer eternal condemnation is to call God a liar.
(to be continued…)
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