December 9, 2024 - Revelation 3:1-6

“And to the angel of the church in Sardis write:  ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars.  I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead’” (3:1).  Every person is different, having his or her strengths and weaknesses.  It’s the same with churches.  The church in Sardis, however, seemed not able to boast of its strengths or decry its weaknesses.  It was neither hot or cold.  Just lukewarm, it appears to have been in a particularly dangerous situation.  The church thought of itself as faithful and alive but in reality it was dead.  It was deceived, and the Lord warned that he would come as a thief to them.  But that’s not all the news out of Sardis.  The angel says, “Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy” (3:4).  It is good to remember two things:  one, that we must be careful to examine ourselves and, two, that even when all others are cold and indifferent toward God, we can be clothed in white with our names ever written in the book of life.

In heavenly love abiding,

no change my heart shall fear;

and safe is such confiding,

for nothing changes here:

the storm may roar without me,

my heart may low be laid;

but God is round about me,

and can I be dismayed?   --Anna Letitia Waring (1850)