The Message to Sardis
Revelation 3:1-6
3 “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars:
“I know your works; you have a name of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is on the point of death, for I have not found your works perfect in the sight of my God. 3 Remember then what you received and heard; obey it, and repent. If you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you. 4 Yet you have still a few persons in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes; they will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. 5 If you conquer, you will be clothed like them in white robes, and I will not blot your name out of the book of life; I will confess your name before my Father and before his angels. 6 Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.
Ancient Sardis was built on the top of a citadel mountain with very steep cliff faces all around it. The people of Sardis believed that it was impossible for an enemy army to capture the city. So confident was Sardis in its invincibility that when Cyrus and the Persian army attacked they did not set a night guard. As everyone in Sardis slept, Cyrus’ army found a way up the cliff face in the night and captured the city.
Twice the church in Sardis is told to wake up (vs. 2, 3) – to be aware that their situation is precarious. To wake up to the fact that they are in danger of being a dead church. Their reputation will not save them. The way to life, to being spiritually alive, is to recognize the ways they have drifted from following Jesus, how their actions, ways of being, are not consistent with the teaching they have received from God. The only hope is for the members of the church to admit their drift away from the Jesus way, and turn (repent) to follow it again.
Yet in the church in Sardis were some people who were faithful to the Jesus way. They are not told to leave the Sardis church, but they are promised that they will not suffer the same fate as the rest of the church – for they are in fact alive. This small group are promised that their names are written in the book of life and that Jesus will acknowledge them as his followers (see also Matt. 10:32). The small remnant are to remain faithful where they are. Staying faithful to Jesus in a church that is asleep to its true state.
PRAYER:
Lord God, wake us up so that we are aware of our true state, Turn our hearts again to following the path of your Son, Jesus Christ. Keep us faithful. In Jesus’ name. Amen.