God sends us messages at times to help us grow, to become better people, and at times to save us. These messages may be personal as we are moved by the Holy Spirit and they may come in a mass corporate manner to the church or through scripture, regardless of their religious persuasion. One such corporate message is the message to the last church of Revelation 3, the Laodicean Church.
You may be aware that the official position of the Seventh-day Adventist Church is that it is a prophetic message primarily applying to God’s end-time remnant church, which Adventists understand to include themselves. It has not always been so identified. In fact, in the early days of the church, they thought they were representing the church of Philadelphia, the church of brotherly love, until a closer analysis revealed that they were indeed better represented by the Laodicean Church.
My purpose for this article is to ask questions, to clarify what God is saying to the Laodicean Church, and to see if anything might be applied to you—the reader. And, if so, to start the process of recovery as prescribed by Jesus Christ to Laodicea.
In Revelation 3:14-22, you will see that Jesus, “the true witness,” starts out, like an effective physician, by giving the diagnosis. And then gives the solution for recovery. If you recognize any of these symptoms in yourself, not others, it is vital that you carefully apply the remedy; otherwise, He says “I will spit you out.” This would make it a salvation issue and should be taken very seriously.
This is not just a nudge to do a little better. This appears to be a loud alarm clock, a wake-up call. First, because those in this state don’t even know their condition:
Because you say, “I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing”—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked (Revelation 3:17).
If this is speaking to you, you may have already stopped reading because you don’t need any instruction—“I’m just fine, thank you.” Why read on? In fact, you’re not just ok but you have everything you need and don’t feel like you need anything more.
If this warning is for you, Jesus disagrees with your feeling that you don’t need anything more. In fact, He thinks that you don’t just need an adjustment, you need a whole makeover, because you are wretched and need to open your blind eyes and even get up, get dressed, and don’t even step outside till you take care of these major deficiencies.
Before you give up and say there is no hope, I can’t fix this, there is good news! Jesus comes with the needed remedy, and He is only telling you these things because He loves you. In fact, if you look outside right now you will “see” Him coming up to your front door. If you invite Him in, He will come in and bring all that is needed for total victory and life-changing transformation.
But it is not easy or cheap. You must start by buying gold tried in the fire. Eye salve to see and a white robe to cover your nakedness. Just admit your condition, repent, and let Him change you.
There are things that He will help you give up. These are things that you may want to hang on to, and you will have many heated discussions with the enemy of your soul, but, by your side, is someone who has never lost a battle with that enemy. He wants to come in and fellowship with you and help you with the transformation.
Just open the door, that’s all.
All of those failures that you are covering up, He will turn into success and overcoming. When you look at His life, you are looking at what can happen when you stop doing it on your own.
But why is all this important to me … or for the church? Have you ever longed for the power that was seen in the early church when thousands were converted in a day, the sick were healed, and miracles were common? What will bring about a change in the church where holiness—such as God’s people have never achieved before—is witnessed by a world who have lost faith in the church or even God? What has to happen before Christ comes, and how does that involve me?
See the continuation in Part 2 of this discussion and what we should do next.
—Rick Mautz is the Rocky Mountain Conference Wellness Support director. Photo by Sherif Emad of Pexels.
