In Revelation chapter 3, we come to the church of Sardis. When Jesus begins to speak to the first four churches, He starts with what is positive about them and then moves to what is negative. When speaking to the church at Sardis, He gets straight to the point. They had a reputation for being alive, but they are dead! Jesus wants them to have an authentic faith. To the community, and maybe even to themselves, they seemed active for God and successful. Yet, Jesus sees right through the hypocrisy and the facade. They were not only deceiving others, but themselves also.
Revelation 3:1 “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.”
Jesus always sees through our actions into our hearts. He alone truly knows our motives for what we do. It is so easy to start out right and get so caught up in doing that we substitute activity, programs, and past successes for true intimacy with God. While we are to work for the Lord, we must keep our perspective clear. James teaches us that we must be doers of the word. Jesus was not saying they should stop doing the deeds they were doing; He is warning them that they have done them for the wrong reason. All of our service to God must come from a heart filled with love for Him. It must flow freely from a heart of gratitude so that others see Him in us.
James 1:22 “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”
While Jesus sternly rebukes them for substituting works for Him, He does not leave them hopeless. He commands them to wake from their spiritual slumber and strengthen themselves in Him.
Revelation 3:2-3 “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.”
To wake up, they must recognize their spiritual complacency before it is too late. They need to return to their first love, repent, and rebuild what faith they still have. One way to do this is to remember what it was like when they first met Jesus as their Savior. This should ignite joy and a desire to tell others about Him. The truth of the gospel would free them from going through the motions of good deeds without the Spirit’s guidance. Reminding ourselves daily of who God is and what He has done for us will help us to stand firm in His truths and keep us from drifting.
Jesus calls them to repent. They were to turn away from self-satisfaction and return to wholeheartedly following God. He warns them that if they remain in their present state, as if they were asleep, He will come like a thief in the night when no one would suspect His coming. They would stand before God in their true condition.
While the majority in the church at Sardis were living a mechanical faith, doing the job but not having the power of God with them. Some still remained steadfast in their love and followed Christ. In verse 4, Jesus acknowledges these few faithful servants.
Revelation 3:4 “You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.”
We live in a world of widespread compromise and apathy, but even in this climate, God still notices every individual who remains faithful. Spiritual vitality is ultimately an individual responsibility. If we fail, we cannot blame it on anyone else. We cannot rely on the spiritual temperature of the church, the pastor, or our family. We must seek Him personally and follow Him closely, even if it means being alone.
Jesus does not leave the church at Sardis without hope. For those who repent and those who have remained faithful, He gives a promise. In verse 5, He offers three powerful assurances. First, they will be clothed in white garments. This represents Christ’s righteousness and ultimate victory. Second, He offers security. Their names will be in the Book of Life. Those who overcome and stay true to God will be eternally secure. Third, Jesus himself will personally declare and honor their allegiance before God.
Revelation 3:5 “He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.”
Like the church of Sardis, we must apply these words to our own lives. We must examine our spirit. Are we relying on past spiritual accomplishments or doing good things rather than a daily walk with Jesus? Note: If we walk with Him daily as we should, the spiritual accomplishments and good deeds will follow.
Find time to sit quietly and ask God to show you where your spiritual life has grown cold or indifferent. Repent of anything God brings to your mind that is between you and Him.
Seek daily to find your strength in Him. The church at Sardis cared more about what others thought than what God knew about them. If this is true of your life, wake up from your spiritual slumber and ask Him for help to hold fast to His truths and stay pure in a culture of apathy as you seek to walk faithfully with Him each day.
