Revelation 3c Commentary
The LORD Jesus is outside the house and not inside the house with the saint. Very strong imagery!
The saint is all by himself, or worse still with another lover inside the house. The LORD Jesus knocks on the door seeking the saint’s attention. It’s still a depressing picture!
The saint is doing fine. There is cash to confirm this status. What else do they need? Blessings are flowing. But the LORD Jesus has a different opinion. Wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. Verse 17.
We can diminish our sins to such minute quantities that we hardly see them. We can magnify our godliness to such levels of comfort that make repentance needless. The LORD Jesus exposes this art with yet another strong image: lukewarm – neither hot nor cold – an undesirable situation that the LORD knows and detests.
The church in Laodicea is a time bomb! A car crash situation!
Poverty: Buy refined gold from the LORD Jesus to be rich. Nakedness: Buy white clothes from the LORD Jesus to cover your nakedness. Blindness: Buy medication from the LORD Jesus so that you can see again. Verse 18.
We can see the solution isn’t more books or better spectacles. Not even better church attendance or charity work would help! Jesus is the solution. “So be honest and repent.” Verse 19.
Victory is calculated by obedience to the will of the LORD.
The letters to the seven churches are a reflection of the state of the church in time and space. They provide a mirror for the individual’s Christian walk. One believer can have all these letters in his pocket in one day!
There are moments of victory. You have felt the assurance of the Holy Spirit within. Such sweet moments! At the same time, many live in a city where satan has established his throne. Your church has some who claim to be Jews but God knows they are not. We are daily exposed to the teachings of Balaam and Jezebel. We cannot claim complete immunity against these teachings! And you know there is a small room in your house where Jesus doesn’t have access! How He has knocked repeatedly!
The Spirit has spoken: Repentance; a trip to your first love; a ‘no’ to Balaam and Jezebel’s teachings; a shopping spree at “Jesus Mall” for essentials; and a firm hold on obedience regardless.
A victor’s crown in the waiting, free access to the Tree of life, a new name, a place next to the Master’s throne, a permanent listing in the Book of life: Who wouldn’t want church!
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