Life and Death
"I know your works; you have a name of being alive, but you are dead. 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. 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.
Revelation 3: 1b-3 [NRSV]
The words above come from the Revelation of John with a vision for each of the seven churches in the country that is Turkey today. The fifth church is Sardis and the message above, although apparently stark, may be appropriate to some of our churches today.
Are you "alive" or "dead"? Are you awake or asleep? It is, in my opinion, easy to drift away from the correct path and Satan loves to entice people away from the truth and towards a life of sin. Repentance is often overlooked and a call to repentance is not very fashionable today – I am not sure it ever was.
The passage goes on to say:
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. 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. Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.
Revelation 3: 4-6 [NRSV]
Our reward for conquering the pollution of life, is to be clothed in white and remain for eternity in heaven.
Do you need to wake up to your situation today? Is there a need for repentance and change of direction in your life and your church?
Is today the day to take the first steps?
Dave MacLellan
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