Transcript

One Bible scholar wrote this:

People do not drift toward holiness . . . people do not gravitate toward godliness . . . We drift toward compromise and call it tolerance; we drift toward disobedience and call it freedom.[1]

I could not agree more! This is not only a true danger for Christians but for local churches as well.

As we set sail now into Revelation 3, we find three more letters written by the Lord to three local churches. Two of those churches are seriously drifting away from the truth.

The first letter in chapter 3 is delivered to the church in Sardis. The Lord signs the letter with a description of Himself as “him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars” (verse 1). Again, “seven” speaks of completeness. The Holy Spirit completely and fully discerns every situation and examines the heart.[2]

And that is critical here, because from all outward appearances, the church in Sardis was doing quite well. Yet the Lord says here in the last part of verse 1, “You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.”

This church had a reputation for being a vibrant church. But reputation and reality can be very different. Jesus says that their works were not “complete in the sight of . . . God” (verse 2). They had a wonderful past but no vital works or ministry in the present.  

They needed to wake up to the reality of their spiritual slumber. Jesus is actually appealing to them from their own history.

The fortress city of Sardis sat on top of a mountain. Three of its sides were sheer cliffs, so it was naturally protected. Centuries earlier, when King Cyrus had marched on Sardis, he was unable to find a way in. He offered a reward to any soldier who could find an entry to the city. An alert soldier named Hyeroeades watched one day as a guard up on the city wall accidentally dropped his helmet down the cliff. He climbed over the wall and down that precipice, retrieved his helmet, and climbed back up. Hyeroeades noted the place where that soldier had climbed down. That night he led a small band of warriors up that same path; and when they reached the top, they found the city asleep and the wall completely unguarded. The city was caught by surprise.[3]

Centuries later, history repeated itself. Sardis fell a second time when a band of soldiers entered the city in the same way.[4]

It is no coincidence that twice Jesus stresses the idea of alertness. He says, “Wake up and strengthen what remains” (verse 2), and then, “If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and . . . come against you” (verse 3).

The church in Sardis needed to wake up to the spiritual danger of drifting from the truths they had been taught.

The next letter is to the church in Philadelphia. Jesus describes Himself here as the one “who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens” (verse 7). Then He says to this church, “I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut” (verse 8).

He is referring to a door of opportunity for even greater service. The apostle Paul referred to open doors of ministry. He wrote to the Corinthians, “A wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries” (1 Corinthians 16:9).

I love his spirit: “I have an open door for the gospel!” How could he tell? There were many adversaries! Paul understood the principle that there is no such thing as spiritual opportunity without satanic opposition.

God opens the doors, but how do you qualify to walk through open doors?

Jesus says here in verse 8, “I know that you have but little power.” I love that. He does not say, “You have to have it all together.” No, just a little power. They did not have much power in themselves, but they have trusted Christ, and that is enough. Jesus commends them, saying, “You have kept my word and have not denied my name.”

In this letter, there is not one negative word from the Lord. In fact, He gives this church, and every church that follows Him, this promise:

“Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth.” (verse 10)

This applies to the church age, beloved. For 2,000 years, the church has endured persecution and opposition. But Jesus says here the church will not suffer the “trial that is coming on the whole world.”

This is not local trouble; this is global trouble. This is a reference to the coming tribulation period, and Jesus is effectively promising His church that they will not experience this global time of tribulation.

Jesus says in verse 11, “I am coming soon.” That language points to the imminent return of Christ, when He will rapture the church away before this time of trouble, the tribulation period, unfolds on earth.

In contrast to this wonderfully encouraging letter, we have the final letter, to the church in Laodicea. Jesus addresses this church in verses 15-16:

“You are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.”

Cold water on a hot day is refreshing, and hot water on a cold day is comforting. Lukewarm water is neither. “Lukewarm” is a word for compromise.

The problem is, those in this church do not realize the danger they are in. They are comfortable in a comfortable city.

Laodicea made garments that were exported all over the known world. They made the name-brand clothing of their generation. Laodicea was the medical hub of the world, where people flocked for treatment and healing. They had even developed an ointment for people to put on their eyes to help with failing eyesight. Laodicea was also the banking center of Asia Minor.[5]

Laodicea seemed to have it all. But Jesus has this to say to this local church that had become like its host city:

“For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.” (verse 17)

This is the divine Physician’s diagnosis—and it is bleak. But there is still hope. Jesus presents this threefold invitation to them in verse 18.

First, He says, “Buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich.” In other words, “Do not put your trust in your banking system.”

Second, Jesus says, “Buy from me . . . white garments so that you may clothe yourself.” He is telling them, “Do not focus on your physical clothing while ignoring your spiritual clothing.”

Finally, Jesus says, “Buy from me . . . salve to anoint your eyes.” In other words, “You have your homemade ointment for physical sight, but that is not as important as your spiritual eyesight.” 

Jesus adds to this invitation in verse 20:

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.”

There is still hope for this church. This text is often used as an evangelistic appeal to unbelievers, but it is actually an invitation for believers—the church—to fellowship with the Lord.

Philadelphia is the church of the open door. Laodicea is the church of the closed door. They have broken fellowship with Christ—they are keeping Him out. How many churches are doing that today?  

Jesus is not breaking the door down—He is knocking. He is graciously asking for a repentant church to receive Him back into their fellowship.

Beloved, let us make sure our hearts are open to Him. Let us make sure we are not drifting away from His Word. Let us walk in fellowship with our Savior today.