Dead, though have a reputation of being alive
Good morning brethren, I like to write on what I have titled “Dead, though have a reputation for being alive”. Revelation 3:1B says “I know all the things you do, and that you have a reputation for being alive—but you are dead.” This is an unsettling words but permit me asking, do you know your reputation? What do those who know you believe about you? Does it match with what God sees or know about you? This letter though written to the church in Sardis should challenge us:- Is our churches dead or alive? What about our spiritual lives or relationship with God, is it dead or alive? What is it that is considered dead? The believers in the church in Sardis are physically alive. They were still meeting like other churches do, they heard the gospel, prayed together, studied the Bible together, and gave as appropriate. But they were dead. Death in the spiritual could mean that we have a church whose members lives a sinful lifestyle and in danger of separation from any fellowship with the Lord.
The salvation of such a Church is far from being assured. Jesus warned that their name could be blotted out of the book of life (verses 5). Forgive my deep thoughts, just imagining the today’s Sardis Church, perhaps with vibrant and bobbling congregations, treating each other with care and respect, praying and singing songs of praises to God, a Church whose members cannot notice anything troubling or wrong. They have a public worship that is very amazing, but Jesus knows better, they are dead. Hebrews 4:12 tells us that “God’s words ……; .. judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Jesus does not care about the reputation of a church. How do we identify a Church in this category? Its light is deemed or gone out completely, such a church has lost its purpose and has become a religious social club. To such a church, unfortunately its members are hindrance to the spread of the gospel of Christ. This letter no doubt should help us as believers to evaluate ourselves and our churches, the message is more like a warning and to help us see the need to read or study the Bible and teach the scriptures in our Churches. Our sermons or preaching should seek to actually explain what God wants us to know. Our teachings should reflect “thus saith the Lord.” Verses 3 of that letter offers the opportunity to take an inventory on things and repent “Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly. Repent and turn to Me again. If you don’t wake up, I will come to you suddenly, as unexpected as a thief.”
In conclusion, please remember this a church that ignores its mission is worse than no church at all as they have become a social organisation with a wrong purpose. Thanksgivings service is for 10.30am and workers meeting is for 10am.
God’s blessings - Mike