The Church that Makes the Lord Sick

Revelation 3:14-21

14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; 

The Church of the Laodiceans has the unfortunate distinction of being the only Church addressed without a word of commendation. There is sternness in the tone of the letter that borders on the extreme, and yet the letter is really the product of love. The letter begins with three statements that identify the Lord Jesus. He is declared to be the “Amen.”

Two thoughts come to mind.

First, in Isaiah 65:16 in Hebrew, God is called the God of truth, or “the God of Amen.” Amen is that special word which is put at the end of a solemn statement for the expressed purpose of affirming its truthfulness. To call Jesus the “Amen,” is to affirm that He is to be believed.

Second, Jesus is called the “faithful and true witness” (v. 14). Often in John’s gospel we read how Jesus began a statement saying, “Verily, verily,” or, Truly, truly, I say unto you” (John 1:51; 3:3, 5, 11). The Greek for truly is, Amen.

Jesus said to Nicodemus, “Amen and amen. I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3).

Here then is a reference to the promises of Christ, whose promises can be relied upon. Jesus is declared to be the true witness who is faithful. To be such a witness there are three essential conditions that must be met.

First, a witness must have seen, with their own eyes, that of which they speak. There is not much room in a court of law for hearsay. Direct evidence is preferred, which is why John wrote elsewhere, “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life” (1 John 1:1).

Second, a witness must be honest, so that they may repeat with accuracy what has been heard, and seen.

Third, a witness must have the persuasive ability to make an impression on those that are spoken to. A witness must be believable. Jesus meets the entire criteria. He is a faithful and true witness.

Third, Jesus is declared to be the beginning of the creation of God. The Mormons, the Jehovah Witnesses, and others, take this verse to deny the deity of Christ because, in the English, the phrase is ambiguous. It could mean one of two things.

First, the phrase, that says [Jesus] is “the beginning of the creation of God,” could mean that Jesus was the first Person to be created. However, if that is true, then He is obviously not God. In the fourth century AD, an apostate named Arius (born c. 250 in Liby – d 336 in Constantinople [now Istanbul],  declared, “there was a time He [Jesus] did not exist.” Such a belief stands in opposition to John 1:1. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

Second, the phrase that [Jesus] is the beginning of the creation of God,” could mean that He is pre-eminent, and began the creation process.  “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him” (Col. 1:16).

There is no doubt that  it was the intention of John to identify all of creation as having its origin in Christ. “All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made” (John 1:3).

For John, to insist on the Lord’s part in creation was to refute the heretics who explained sin, and death, and disease, as being the creation of a false and lesser god.  The Christian view is that the God of creation is also the God of redemption.

15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

Once again Jesus Christ declares that He knows the works of the professing church. It is His calculated conclusion that the professing saints are neither hot nor cold, but barely warm.  To the Laodiceans this was a picture of crude vividness, because they understood all too well the nauseating quality of a liquid that was tepid. As a city, Laodicea had a water supply problem. Because of its location, the city was dependent upon an underwater aqueduct from springs about six miles away. But there was a problem with the water supply. It was neither hot nor cold, but tepid, and it made people sick to drink it without the water being treated.

The Lord’s controversy with His people was that, as they presently existed, they were making Him sick because they were neither hot nor cold. They were indifferent, and it is this indifference that makes the Lord ill. Indifferent people do not change society. Indifferent people do not change anyone. So serious is the Lord about this matter of indifference that He makes an amazing announcement, which in effect says this: “I have more respect for the hardened unbeliever than I have for the professing believer who is lukewarm.”

There are several factors leading to the spiritual status of indifference.

First, when there is material prosperity, the Church begins to become lukewarm. Repeatedly the Bible warns of the danger of riches. Even the desire to be rich can lead people into sin. “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness” (1 Tim. 6:6-11).

Second, a shift in one’s thinking, leads to lukewarmness. With the rise of the Prosperity Gospel, a shift has taken place in the thinking of many Christians. There are Christians who sincerely believe that financial wealth and prosperity is the sign of God’s favor, and their own personal righteousness. “Such people do not know they are spiritually miserable; they are to be pitied for they are a pauper in the sight of God, and blind to the gospel truth, and without the robe of righteousness” (v. 17).

The story is told of Thomas Aquinas who was visiting Pope Urban IV (c. 1195 –  October 2, 1264).

The Pope was found counting the riches of Rome. “

Look, Thomas,”

said the Pope,

“No longer can the Church say, ‘Silver and gold, have I none!”

“Ah yes,”

replied Thomas.

“Neither can the Church say to desperate souls, ‘Rise up and walk.’”

When spiritual discernment goes, lukewarmness comes in. The heart becomes indifferent to Bible study, worship, witnessing, and helping others in need.

Having identified the problem, and explained how the Church got into such a terrible condition, the Lord offers divine counsel.

18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich…

The Lord would have His people spiritually buy two items.

First, the Church is invited to buy gold tried in the fire, so that the people might be truly rich. The idea is to possess that which touches the inner man, the soul, which is made in the image of God.

Faith is spiritual gold because it enriches the soul. In fact, faith is more precious than physical gold that perishes, according to the apostle Peter. “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:7).

Notice that spiritual gold is associated with fire, a symbol of trouble and tribulation. It is through much tribulation the saints enter the kingdom of heaven (Acts 14:22). Job said, “He knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job 23:10).

God does test His people.

That is why the tongue of the slanderer lashes out.

That is why Christians are the object of hatred, and rumors, and evil reports.

That is why bad theology has arisen, promising escapism from great tribulation. The Devil does not want Christians to buy spiritual gold through severe testing.

However, those who will reign with Christ must suffer with Him.“If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us” (2 Timothy 2:12).

God will give spiritual capital that we need if we want faith to know Him, faith to love Him, faith to serve Him, and faith to suffer with Him.

Second, the Lord counseled the Church to buy white raiment.

18 I counsel thee to buy of me…white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed.

The reference to the purchase of white clothing is significant. The Laodiceans were very proud of the white robes they wore in public. The clothing from Laodicea was famous all over the known world. The Lord draws from this a spiritual lesson. The spiritual robe of righteousness is more important than the luxury articles being worn. It was a shame to Christ for the Church to be without spiritual garments, despite their display of physical wealth.

Jesus would have His people clothed in righteousness. The world watches, and wonders, at professing Christians caught in spiritual nakedness. God’s threat to His people by the prophet Nahum was specific. “Behold, I am against thee, saith the Lord of hosts; and I will discover thy skirts upon thy face, and I will shew the nations thy nakedness, and the kingdoms thy shame” (Nahum 3:5).

God will let the world look upon the nakedness of the Church unless she wears a clothing of righteousness.When spiritual nakedness is revealed, there is shame and humiliation.

Now, the motive for the Lord giving counsel to the Church in Laodicea was love.

19 As many as I love, I rebuke,” says Christ.

The love of Christ compels Him to say something, and by this, we know that one facet of biblical love is to have the best interest of someone else at heart. “I love you,” says Christ. “I must counsel you.”

As the Lord gave counsel to the Church of Laodicea, so He gave a divine directive.

The Christians in the congregation were to anoint their eyes with eye-salve that they may be able to see.

18 …anoint thine eyes with eye salve, that thou mayest see.

An eye salve is simply a solution to help the eyes stop burning, watering, or itching. We have solutions to help the eyes today, and they existed in the ancient world as well. But the eye-salve of old hurt when applied, which meant the people were hesitant to use it. Spiritually, the Laodiceans were hesitant to use the eye-salve. It hurt too much. They did not want to see themselves as they really were. This is understandable.

It does take a lot of grace to stand in self-judgment and say,

“I am a sinful person, O Lord.”

“I am a lustful man.”

 “I am a proud woman.”

“I am a liar.”

“I am too critical of others.”

“I am not just weak, I am wicked.”

It took a long time for Saul of Tarsus to learn to say as Paul the apostle, “I was covetous” (Rom. 7:7-9).  John and James would have to confess they were angry and ambitious men.

Still, the beginning of hope is to see self as one really is.

“I want you to see,” says Jesus. “I want you to anoint thine eyes with eye-salve.”

Spiritually, this means to apply the Word of God, for it helps us to see ourselves not only as we are, but also as we might be. As we investigate the Perfect Law of Liberty, spiritually, we see.

There is a fourth directive the Lord gives, and that is “to be zealous.”

19…be zealous therefore, and repent.

To be zealous speaks of intensity of the soul more than it does physical activity. Most of life is really lived in the mind. The Christian is commanded to redeem the time, which is done in worship and work. The Christian is to pray without ceasing, and to seek first the kingdom of God.

Finally, the Lord directs the Church to repent.

To repent means to admit the charges are true.

To repent means to turn from sin.

To repent means to plot a course of conduct that will be different.

A Church that is financially rich may want to consider giving away a large portion of its wealth to help others.

A Church that is proud of its fine clothing may want to clean out the closets and clothe the naked.

A Church that is lukewarm in worship may want to consider being put in the company of the committed.

A Church that is not spiritually mature may want to find better teaching material that will help it grow spiritually.

To focus attention on the personal responsibility of the saints, a promise is made.

20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”

Notice that this passage is given to the Church, not the world. It is given for the purpose of sanctification not evangelization, by way of interpretation. Christ is pleading with His people, not unbelievers. Jesus stands at the door of the Christians heart, and He knocks in condescending love. The Lord takes the initiative in seeking to fellowship with His people.

In the twelfth century AD, Saint Bernard of Clairvaux [Clair-vo] lived, from 1090 – August 1153.

Bernard was a French abbot, a mystic, co-founder of the Knights Templar, and an advocate of spiritual renewal.  He would tell his monks that however early they might awake and rise for prayer in their chapels, on a cold mid-winter morning, or even in the dead of night, they would always find God awake before them, waiting for them—”nay it was He who had awakened them to seek His face” (Revelation, Wiliam Barclay).  In grace, the Lord will meet with His people; He would “sup” with them.

The word “sup” is a very special word. It is the third meal of the day (Gk. deipneo [dipe-neh’-o]; the evening meal), the one people lingered over after a day’s work was done.

Finally, to all who will listen to the counsel of Christ, the wonderful promise is made to sit with the Lord in His throne.

21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

It is easier to understand this verse when it is realized that the eastern throne was more like a couch than a chair. To sit with Christ in lingering fellowship, is to share His victory over the world, the flesh, and the devil.

22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.