Revelation 3:14-22

Revelation 3:14-22

It is as if the Lord saved the worst for last.  The church at Laodicea is the only church of the seven to receive no word of commendation from the Lord. It was a church without approval. The church is apathetic about its spiritual condition. They do not seem to be self-deceived, thinking they are spiritually healthy or dynamic when they are not. This church appears to lack any concern about their condition, even if they are aware that something is desperately wrong. They are rather concerned about their financial well-being. “Who needs to get fanatical about religion when you have money?” is their attitude. Their wealth had made them numb to their actual condition. How descriptive of many of our churches today! We build lavish homes for our congregations and are concerned with our personal peace and affluence, and we approach Christ as a consumer approaches a market. We will take a little of this and some of that, but only at our choosing.

Somewhere along the way there was a failure of leadership. The church did not end up in this pathetic shape by itself. There were leaders who either actively led this church towards this selfish life or did not correct it as it was drifting that way. The church in the West is very much in this situation. If the average church attendee were given the choice of losing their faith or their wealth, most would, if they had to make a choice, surrender their faith. But in our religious context that choice is never so obvious. You can easily find a church that will tell you exactly what you want to hear about wealth, no matter how selfish it might be. This is the result of generations that have tried to make Christianity about us and not Him. The seeker-driven church has been stunned to find that what the seeker wants is to be selfish with just enough religion to alleviate the conscience. 

They are deplorable, and their condition is not in spite of the circumstances but because of them. Their focus on personal peace and affluence has blinded them to their true condition. They have five markers of how bad off they really are. They are “wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.” Thankfully, the Lord can provide the cure for their five ailments. They must, however, become passionate about the Lord and express genuine change of heart, AKA, repentance. The Lord stands at the door making noise trying to alert the church. If they will open to Him, He will come in; however, He will not knock forever. 

“Lord, please awaken Your church or our sad condition. AMEN”