Proof of Life: Daily Thoughts from Revelation (Revelation 3:1-6)

I have a friend who took a job as pastor at a small country church. He was excited to be serving the Lord in this way until he realized that this congregation really didn’t want what he taught to be applied. They wanted a sermon and a church. They just didn’t want to live out the demands of the gospel. He nearly quit the church. But as he prayed and persevered he began to see some signs of life. The church was waking up.

The church at Sardis was a lot like this country church and Jesus was reaching out to them hoping for change. He was asking for proof of life.

“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. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. 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. The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”  (Revelation 3:1-6 ESV)

Sardis, as a city, had the reputation of trusting in its impregnable cliff walls and of falling to the enemy because it did not stay alert.  The same has happened to the church in this city.  They have been relying on their reputation that they have life in Christ, but Jesus sees them as nearly dead.  They need to repent or when Jesus unexpectedly comes in the judgment they will be judged as unbelievers.

There is a remnant of believers in this church.  Instead of judgment they will receive white garments befitting their pure hearts and they will have intimate fellowship with Jesus.  Jesus will proclaim that they belong to him. Saying he will never blot their names from the Book of Life does not mean there are some names in there that he will blot out. All names in the Book of Life are permanent and that is what Jesus is emphasizing about his relationship to those at Sardis.

It is hard sometimes to remain pure when all those around you seem not to care.  It is easy to coast on reputation sometimes when the substance is not really there.  It is hard to wake up and repent, but Jesus comes like a thief comes, unexpectedly.  We’d better be ready.