Revelation is a book about prophecy… prophecy about things not yet fulfilled. Revelation is a look into the future. This book gives us a glimpse into the Tribulation, the Antichrist, the horrible atrocities that await believers, the Jewish people, and the way the gospel will go out during that dark time. But at the beginning of Revelation – chapters 2 and 3 – Jesus sends a message to seven churches. He praises them for what they are doing right and warns them about the things they are doing wrong. This is a picture of what the church and Christians will be like during the days prior to the Tribulation… what we call the end days. I believe we are living in those end days so I’m guessing we should listen to what Jesus had to say to these churches.
To the church at Sardis (Revelation 3:1-6), Jesus said: “I know all the things you do, and that you have a reputation for being alive – but you are DEAD” (Revelation 3:1). Hence, the church was still standing on a hill and from the outside it looked good – it may have been beautiful to look at. The caretakers did a fabulous job of keeping up the outward appearance. And people in the town thought that this was the place… the place where true Christianity lived. But they were so wrong. Because while the outside looked amazing, the inside was dead. The people that came on Sunday, the people who called this place home, were not taught truth. The worship was merely outward but was missing the heart behind it. It may have been no more than a social club.
While there are many churches that resemble the church at Sardis in this day, many Christians do too. These Christians are Pharisees walking around… they have the right lingo, show up every time the doors of the church are open, sit on the church board, and serve in church positions. While they look and seem alive on the outside, the inside is dead. They judge others. They gossip. They argue. They are very self-centered. These people look and act just like the Pharisees. Jesus called the Pharisees hypocrites (Matthew 23:15); blind guides (Matthew 23:16); and blind fools (Matthew 23:17). He said to them in Matthew 23:28: “Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness.” Sounds like the church of Sardis, right?
So, let’s go back to what Jesus said to this church. While He was warning them about their dead state, He was also giving them a chance to change. He always offers us a chance to repent as well. Jesus said to them in Revelation 3:2: “Wake up!” In other words, wake up the slumbering. Wake up your ears to hear God’s voice, open up your eyes to see what God is doing, and awaken your spirits to the Lord’s leading. Put God’s Word at the center of all you do. Teach and train your people in truth. Sweep out the bad stuff. Stop arguing and get along. Seek to obey the mandates of Scripture. Stop evaluating yourself by the world’s standards but start evaluating your church by God’s standards. Stop worrying about entertaining your people, but focus on their souls. Stay true to the Gospel.
We need this message in the day we’re living. It’s important that we aren’t just going through the motions. It’s important that we are not concerned about how we look to others inside the church but that we are concerned with our heart response to Jesus. Let this encourage you today.