So many people today in the Church have the idea that they are rich because they have a lot of money, a nice home, nice car, nice clothes but in the eyes of God it does not mean you are rich. I am not saying that to have such things is sinful or wrong but it does not mean you are blessed or rich. Beloved if you are not putting God first if you are not on fire for Him, if you are not having intimate fellowship with Him, and you love your possessions and money more than Him, in His eyes you are poor, wretched, miserable, and blind. Such was the Church in Laodicea. In Rev 3: 15 Jesus says I know thy works, that thou are neither cold nor hot: v. 16, so then because thou are lukewarm and neither cold nor hot I will spew thee out of my mouth. Jesus says I know thy works, He knows whether you are devoted to Him or devoted to your wealth. He knows whether you are on fire for Him . You might be able to fool yourself or fool people but you can never fool Jesus. Jesus is the one that searches the heart and tries the reigns ( Jeremiah 17: 10 ).
The Laodiceans were under deception, in their own eyes they were rich and increased with goods, they said to themselves we have prospered and thought they had need for nothing; but in the Lords eyes they were wretched, poor, blind and naked. Jesus said I am going to spew thee out of my mouth. Some believers would look at the Laodiceans and say ‘man these people are really blessed'. Here we have a stark contrast as to what Jesus calls rich and what man considers as rich. Beloved what man esteems highly is usually an abomination to God. Man looks on the outward appearance, God looks on the heart. In their pursuit of this worlds wealth they had forsaken their first love and they were no longer having intimate fellowship with the Lord Jesus. In v. 20 Jesus is knocking on the Church door trying to get in so He can fellowship with His people. I think this is a picture of most Churches today Jesus is on the outside trying to get in wanting fellowship with His people. I think the picture of being on fire for Him or being rich in His eyes in this chapter is making time daily for fellowship, having intimacy with Him in prayer and the word. Jesus says I stand at the door and knock if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come into him and will dine with Him. If any man hear my voice. Beloved Jesus in crying out to you for fellowship. That is the true riches. The apostle Paul said I have nothing but possess everything. I am poor but make many rich. He could say this because Paul possessed Christ Jesus.
In Rev. 3: 18 Jesus makes this statement I counsel thee to buy gold tried in the fire that you may be rich. Again Jesus is reiterating that they are not rich they need the gold tried in the fire to be rich in His eyes. What is the gold tried in the fire. It is the trial of our faith. What is the trial of our faith? Is it not dying to self and carrying our cross? Is it not being crucified to the world and the flesh. Jesus said if any man come after me let him pick up his cross and deny himself. There is no other way to be rich in the eyes of God than for us to lay our lives down for His Son. There was no other way for Jesus than the cross and there is no other way for us. Jesus said unless a grain of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone,; but if it die it brings forth much fruit. My brothers and sisters to have intimacy with Christ it takes sacrifice and self denial. I know many of you are so busy but if you will sacrifice a little sleep or skip a meal once in awhile or sacrifice some of your t.v. time to spend more time with the Lord He will reward you. He rewards those that diligently seek Him. Beloved focus not on the things you can see but on the things you can't see; the eternal things. The things you can see are going to perish but he that has Christ will never perish. Store up for yourselves treasure in Heaven not on earth. May this inspire you to be more eternally minded. MUCH LOVE IN CHRIST.
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