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 WAKE UP! (REVELATIONS 3:1-13)

The church of Sardis is admonished to wake up spiritually while the church of Philadelphia is commended for remaining faithful and enduring in the Lord even with their little strength. 

REFLECTION

The theme for our reflection is wake up! To wake up means to cease sleeping. In the context of our theme, it refers to the revival of a church from spiritual slumber. Sardis was a hilly city in the Roman empire that was known to be lively and filled with pleasure and luxury. It was also known for its immorality and paganism. The Chruch in Sardis was commended and criticised by Jesus that “‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive but you are dead” (Revelation 3:1). In other words, the Church of Sardis is known for being busy doing nothing. The lifestyle of the members of the church was greatly influenced by the socio-cultural conditions in Sardis. The church in Sardis represents churches that seem to be having a lot of activities, meetings and church programmes but yet a substantial number of church members are spiritually and morally dead. 

Many Christians find church activities to be routine exercises. Many seem to be coming to church regularly but the big question is, are the spiritual and moral lives of people being transformed by the myriads of crusades, revivals and Sunday worships they attend? Many people see the church as a place for merely socialising and striking up an acquaintance with others, that is why when they come to church they can stand outside and chat while church service is ongoing, Some are fixated on their phones and chat on WhatsApp or engage each other on social media while church service is ongoing.  Some Christians of our time see the church as a place of welfare hence they contribute more welfare dues but donate little during worship services, Some Christians also see the church as an entertainment arena where dancing and singing supersede paying attention to the sermon and getting involved in prayers. In some churches, some Christians do not understand worship to be an act of service and offering one’s self as a living sacrifice, they see it as an arena of theatre performance and self-projection. In other words, Jesus is no longer the centre of Christian worship, human beings have taken the center stage. Standing from the outside, the church looks very active and buoyant but within the hearts of members in the church, they do not have any personal relationship with Christ. We are greatly admonished by Jesus’ words to the church of Sardis that 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. (Revelation 3:2-3) . In other words, there is hope, we must return to the Word of God, apply it to our lives, repent and be faithful to God.

Jesus says “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. (Revelation 3:3). My dear friend let us be active like the Philadephia Christians whom Jesus commended that “I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. (Revelation 3:8) Let us wake up and not allow ourselves to be influenced by the culture and fleshly desires of the World but remain resolute in our conviction and salvation in Christ, for Jesus promises us that “Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. (Revelation 3:11-12).  

PRAYER 

“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 3:5-6). This is our prayer, Lord. Amen 

Jean-Paul Agidi (Rev)