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Standing inside Westminster Abbey in London, I remember being struck with the thought: This is not what a church is supposed to feel like. 

I was not uneasy because of the Abbey’s appearance, which remains one of the most beautiful architectural and artistic sites I have ever visited. Christians can and should appreciate and celebrate artistic achievements, because the ability to create beauty reflects the creative brilliance of God. 

I didn’t feel out of place in the Abbey because it is old, having been built in the 1200s. Westminster Abbey has been an icon of British life and culture for centuries. To this day, it remains the traditional location of royal coronations and weddings. 

The reason Westminster Abbey felt strange to me was that it no longer represented life—physically or spiritually. Today, the Abbey is a prestigious burial site, housing the bones of more than 3,000 people. Indoor grave plots now hold the remains of such notables as royal family members, George Handel, Charles Dickens, and Isaac Newton. Ironically, and tragically, even some who’ve rejected God are also buried within the Abbey walls, such as Charles Darwin and Stephen Hawking. 

Westminster Abbey is not a vibrant church any longer. It’s a mausoleum, a museum, a cemetery. 

In the fifth of seven letters to the churches found in Revelation, Jesus effectively tells the church at Sardis, You are the living embodiment of Westminster Abbey. You may seem alive, but you are dead. Your pews are filled with living corpses; your church is nothing more than a relic of history. 

Sardis was one of the wealthiest cities in the Mediterranean region in the first century. Gold literally flowed into the city from the river that ran through it. The King of Sardis, named Croesus, would have been viewed the same way we view Elon Musk or Bill Gates—the embodiment of enormous wealth. 

I can imagine that the wealthy members of the church in Sardis would have met in a beautiful building with pews made of mahogany. Local artists would eagerly await a commission for stained glass windows, and the pulpit could have been covered in gold leaf. They would have the largest pipe organ ever made. 

But the church’s budget couldn’t cover up this divine diagnosis: they were dead! 

Here’s what Jesus writes to them: 

“‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. Remember, then, what you 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 against you’” (Revelation 3:1-3). 

I want to focus on the commands Jesus gives Sardis to remedy their tragic state, but first, let’s examine a few factors that most often lull a church into spiritual slumber. These factors contributed to Sardis’ condition and are the likely culprits in spiritually dead churches today. We must all guard our lives and ministries against these dangers: 

A church is in danger of spiritual death if: 

• It focuses more on past successes than future endeavors. 
• It protects traditions over doctrine. 
• It rejects new adventures of faith for the safe status quo. 
• It is more interested in its reputation in the community than receiving the approval of Christ. 
• It views newcomers as intruders rather than gospel opportunities. 

Jesus’ commands to this church are similar to the instructions He gave the church at Ephesus, which we examined in part one of this study back in August. 

Jesus tells them to “wake up … strengthen … remember … keep it, and repent.” 

“Wake up” means alert yourself to the fact that you are in grave danger. There’s a saying used with addiction therapy that “recognition is the first step toward recovery,” and that’s true. You can’t resurrect spiritual vitality until you recognize the spiritual void. 

“Strengthen” refers to protecting spiritual realities in your mind. A person who is “strengthening what remains” is reengaging in the true mission of the church. 

“Remember” is the same command Jesus gave to Ephesus, and it relates to recalling spiritual truths—even the truths that seem so basic and simple that we are tempted to take them for granted. We are to remember our deadly trajectory before God saved us, and we are to remember His grace and love toward us. Remembering is God’s way of reviving; recollection inspires devotion. 

“Keep it” means that the truths we remember don’t just live in our minds but are manifested in our lives. These are the actions that follow our beliefs. Because we remember that God loves us, we can love others, even when it’s hard. Because Jesus modeled service during His ministry, we can humbly and diligently serve our churches and communities. 

“Repent.” Again, echoing His command to Ephesus, Jesus is telling the church at Sardis that saying “I’m sorry” isn’t enough. Repent means, Do a 180°. Stop what you’re doing, turn around, and start walking in the opposite direction. 

Let’s heed this warning from Jesus: it’s possible to have the appearance of spiritual life without the reality of spiritual life. 

And let’s be encouraged by the promise that it is possible to experience fresh revival from the Lord as we repent and regain our commitment to the will and work of God.