The death Rattle of the Church. Revelation 3:1-6Like a dead man, the church at Sardis was "destitute of force or power. They were ineffective and inoperative." They were dead! There was activity, but it was not spiritual in nature. There was busyness, but they were bringing nothing eternal to pass. They were preaching, but lives were not being changed and sinners were not being saved. They were busy, but they were operating in the energy of the flesh and not the energy of the Spirit of God. Everyone looked at them and spoke of their life. Jesus, the One Who knew them better than anyone, looked at them and pronounced them dead!Many churches are in that same shape today. They have all the appearance of life, but the Great Physician, Who has His finger on their pulse, knows they are dead.All living things are characterized by growth. When a physical body develops problems, it is because there is disharmony in the body. When a physical body dies, one of the clearest indications is the total lack of emotion. One sure sign of death is the absence of motion. Do we exhibit the signs of life, or the signs of death?As bad as things were in Sardis, there were some there who were saved and seeking to serve the Lord. They are given the Lord's promise that they will walk with the Lord in white. Jesus tells the rest that if they will repent, and turn to Him, they will receive some precious promises. |
