Monday, April 6, 2009
Things Ready to Die
(Revelation 3)
No one enjoys being around death. Finding our lives punctuated by the loss of a loved one, we experience both sorrow and discomfort as we proceed through the visitation and memorial service. Devotion demands participation, but most folks view the trappings of death uncomfortably.
Imagine the Lord’s discomfort with a church that, though outwardly alive, was inwardly dead. It’s not that First Baptist Church of Sardis lacked activity. Oh, they had plenty of “works.” The problem from Jesus’ perspective was that their works were imperfect. While the imperfection is not specified, one wonders if their efforts for the Lord had become perfunctory rather than heart-felt. Remember, God is not impressed by outward ritual without inward devotion. Whatever the problem, Jesus described Sardis as a church that was “ready to die” (2).
While the prognosis for the church was not good, the Lord’s prescription could bring healing. “Be watchful,” Jesus said, “and strengthen the things which remain…” In other words, there was still hope; but they had to act quickly—they had to strengthen whatever vestige of life remained.
Has your spiritual live grown cold and dead? Don’t be comfortably complacent with death! Seek genuine revival of heart by rekindling what little fire remains. Even if your spiritual walk has diminished to faintly glowing embers, the breath of the Spirit of God can fan the flames again! Act now! Strengthen whatever remains!
