The Message to Laodicea

Revelation 3:14-22

14 “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the origin of God’s creation:

15 “I know your works; you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were either cold or hot. 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, ‘I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing.’ You do not realize that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18 Therefore I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire so that you may be rich; and white robes to clothe you and to keep the shame of your nakedness from being seen; and salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. 19 I reprove and discipline those whom I love. Be earnest, therefore, and repent. 20 Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me. 21 To the one who conquers I will give a place with me on my throne, just as I myself conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.”

Laodicea was a wealthy city; it was a banking centre, had a high-end fashion sector, and was a world-class eye care centre. The city was so wealthy that after the earthquake in 60 AD which destroyed the city – the city politicians told the emperor to keep his money, they did not need it for rebuilding the city.

Of this well-off city, and to the church in the city, Jesus says, they are poor, blind, and naked. The church – the Christian community – is so confident in their own self-sufficiency, their own capability, that they believe they need no help from God, from Jesus, from the Holy Spirit. They can do it on their own. So confident are they that they do not recognize their own poverty, their own blindness, their own nakedness. These are tough words, but as Jesus himself says, he disciplines and reproves those whom he loves.

To this arrogant, self-satisfied church Jesus issues one of the most gracious invitations in all of scripture, an invitation that has been painted frequently, an invitation depicted in two of the stained-glass windows at St. Andrew’s, Fergus. Jesus standing at the door knocking, Jesus wishing to come in and eat with the people of the church in Laodicea – and by extension wishing to come in and eat with any who will let Jesus in.

Complacent, even arrogant, self-sufficiency is not just a sin of the first century. Humanity easily believes the myths that say we are in charge – that we control our destinies. When such thinking impacts our Christian lives we have a problem, a problem of spiritual pride, which is toxic. But Jesus stands at the door knocking to come into our lives if we will be humble enough to open the door and let him in.  

PRAYER:

Lord God, we are blinded by our arrogance into believing we are secure and safe, when in fact, we are in desperate need. By your Spirit, blow away our pride, that we might humbly let Jesus into our lives as Lord and Ruler. In Jesus’ name. Amen.