Praise and Rebuke (Part 4)
Notes
Transcript
Listening to those words in the letter to Laodicea though in some ways cryptic, its message rings true for many of us. Of the 7 letters to churches, this one is, in my experience, the best known.
The church in Laodicea, like other churches to whom letters were sent, was culturally diverse. Pagan worship, especially of Zeus but also other deities (such as Dionysus, Helios, Hera, and Athena) flourished there. There was a significant Jewish community that lived in the region as well, so much so that by the third century illustrations on some coins had mixed together Jewish and pagan versions of the Flood stories. This blending of traditions is key to unlocking the meaning of this letter.
You and I live in a similar situation. King and Pierce counties have a diverse religious landscape. It is one of the least religious areas in the United States where a significant portion of the population sees themselves as religiously unaffilliated, meaning they could be atheist, agnostic, or “nothing in particular”, often picking an choosing aspects of multiple belief systems. In our region specifically, other than Christian denominations you will find representation in Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism and more. So we too are living in a culture of diversity.
Jesus chooses a very obvious illustration referring to cold and hot. Laodicea did not have a natural water source of its own. It did not have direct access to the water flowing from mountains nor the hotsprings of Hierapolis to the north. So their water supply was piped in through an aquaduct which often included a stone barrel pipe that was above ground exposed to the heat of the day. By the time the water arrived to Laodicea it wasn’t cold and refreshing, it was lukewarm. The water wasn’t refreshing, it was awful. Dispite all the other things Laodicea celebrated, they were also known for their awful water. It was so bad people spit it out!
So let’s look at Laodicea and see if we can spot the issues and even the solutions.
1. Assess Authenticity Problem
1. Assess Authenticity Problem
I’ve been saying over and over again these letters invite us to step back and take a look in the mirror. Indeed this letter is no different.
Like all the other letters it begins with Jesus identifying himself.
“And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation.
The Amen - which literally meant “so be it.” This is a statement that “what I say is true”. The combination of the Amen and the beginning of God’s Creation - are a nod to Jesus previously identiying himself as the Alpha and the Omega back in chapter 1 verse 8.
After hot and cold we get this, Rev 3:17
For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.
Laodicea was a thriving metropolitan business center. Despite their wretched water, they were known for their textile industry, for medical advancement, and more.
In 60AD the region suffered a major earthquake. Laodicea took it as a badge of honor that they had not taken any monies from the government for the rebuilding of their city. Indeed they felt they had no needs.
The reality was different. The most obvious of which was their dependence upon other areas as their water source. Yet it’s not their resources that Jesus is pointing out is it? It’s the self assessment of their spiritual lives.
Even in the christian culture of our day there are many that believe financial status, social status, economic status, house, and car, are indicators of faith. Let’s take a moment and honestly ask - What does that have to do with Jesus?
When we conflate these things with our faith our fatih loses its power. It weakens our witness to others.
2. Acquire Authentic Wealth
2. Acquire Authentic Wealth
By verse 18 we get into a redirection for the people of Laodicea. They were proud of their worldly independence, but had forgotten their spiritual dependence. The letter is personal, it directly speaks of the things that Laodicea took for granted.
I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.
Gold refined by fire was pure, white garments was a symbol of cleanliness, holiness and purity, the salve is a nod to the medicine practiced in the area but in this case opens their eyes to truly see.
Now as I read this rebuke from Jesus its easy to think that in His eyes we’re nothing but a big disappointment, that He wants nothing to do with us - especially when compared to that awful water he wants to spit out. Eugene Peterson - author of the Message Translation - translates that section as: Rev 3:16
You’re stale. You’re stagnant. You make me want to vomit.
Our young friends might translate it as “you make me want to puke.”
The idea that Jesus is distancing Himself is exactly the opposite of what is intended here, and in case there might be a misunderstanding we get to verse 19 - Rev 3:19
Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.
It’s not because Jesus dislikes us, but because He loves us that he reproves and disciplines the churches.
This is a call to change, to repentence.
This is God in the garden calling, “Where are you?”
This is Jesus inviting us to “Come, follow Me.”
This is an invitation into intimacy with God and its one that will not be forced upon either the people of Laodicea nor upon us. Our relationship with God is voluntary on our part - we have free will to choose to go the other way.
Perhaps the most famous verse in Revelation is in chapter 3, verse 20
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.
Notice it doesn’t say Jesus opens the door. He doesn’t barge in, it is up to us to invite him in. And then there is this very intimate portrayal of dining together in one’s home.
It reminds me of John 14:23
Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
To live together - in community.
3. Anticipate Authentic Reward
3. Anticipate Authentic Reward
The rewards mentioned in these letters include:
Ephesus - to eat of the tree of life in the paradise with God.
Smyrna - not be hurt by the second death
Pergamum - hidden manna, a white stone with a new name written on the stone.
Thyatira - authority over the nations and the morning star
Sardis - to be clothed with white garments, never to be blotted out of the book of life, their name confessed before God the Father and His angels.
Philadelphia - to become a pillar in the temple of God and have God’s name written on them.
And then we come to Laodicea:
The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.
They are granted to sit with Jesus on the throne in victory. This is not a statement that we will somehow be elivated as some believe to rule as Jesus rules, but that we will be with Him. As He is victorious, so we will be.
What’s the lesson?
What’s the lesson?
Our passage addresses the struggles we all have with complacency in faith. It is so easy to become blah in the exercise of our fatih. It encourages us, as the other letters have, to evaluate our relationship with Christ and to be honest about where that is. Our true wealth does not come from social or economic statuses. It doesn’t come from the collection of material goods that we have. In the end its our relationship with God.
Recently I heard of a childhood friend’s death. Those entering his home described it as a hoarders paradise. He had lots of things. Some untouched still in their boxes. But he’s gone. Those things mean absolutely nothing now.
I guarantee you he is not celebrating how many motorcycles he had, or what he’d collected. It’s all about his relationship with God.
How about you? When you evalluate your relationship with God how do you rate it? Is it hot like a healing bath? Is it cold and refreshing like a cold glass of iced tea on a hot day? Or it has it been infiltrated by all that is around it, has it become almost indistinguishable from it’s environment?
As Christians we are in the world, but not of it. Are you pursuing things above or the accolades of your neighbor? Let us press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus has already taken hold of us.
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.
He stands at the door and knocks. Are we letting him in? I love that image of enjoying a meal with Jesus. I imagine the laughter, the enjoying time together, and also the hard questions that you don’t feel comfortable about but know that in the midst of answering them you are still loved. I imagine the compassion, the mercy, the acceptance.
This is the relationship I desire for myself, and its the one I desire for you. Let me pray for you.
