At the beginning of this year I experienced a flat battery, so I decided to buy a new one and put it on my car. I got nothing, no lights, no electrics, I couldn't even open my doors!
I took it back to where I had just purchased it and they said “It had no power and needed charging”. Obviously, they replaced it with another one. The battery looked good on the outside but had no power within. It needed charging-connecting to a power source!
Revelation 3:14-22 (NIV)
To the Church in Laodicea
14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.
19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the doorand knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.
21 To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
The Laodicean Church was much like that battery they looked right from the outside. They even thought they were rich and not in need of anything.
This however was not how Jesus (the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation Verse 14) sees them.
He describes them as:
Neither hot or cold-but lukewarm - They would understand this as they had an aqueduct feeding hot water to them from about 5 miles away and by the time it arrived it was neither hot nor cold but lukewarm.
Wretched – They were saying everything is ok on the outside but were heartbroken and miserable inside,
Pitiful/Pathetic
Poor - The city was a banking and finance city, they were that rich they did not require support, even when they rebuilt after an earthquake.
Blind - Laodicea was famous for its medical school and ingredients for eye salve/solutions.
Naked - Laodicea were also famous for their clothes trade especially a black wool.
What happens in the natural has parallels in the spiritual realm. They trusted in their own ability.
If what we believe is worth anything it is worth everything!
Verse 18-19 (God’s counsel to the Laodiceans)
Buy of me gold tried in the fire – This represents true faith.
Buy of me white garments - This represents righteousness.
Anoint your eyes with eye salve - This represents enlightenment by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God.
Be zealous to save your souls - Not lukewarm.
Repent - Turn from your sin.
We may think we are ok and we have everything together but as we start a New Year together let’s really search ourselves. Let us not be like that battery I bought, looking great on the outside and fit for purpose but unable to do anything because of no power inside. Just like the Laodicean church, looking great on the outside to all that looked on but having no connection to God. The real source of all we need is Jesus.
Blog by Darren Butkus
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