February 17, 2022
“Be watchful and strengthen the things that remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God.” Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.” Revelation 3:2-3
The word “watchful” by Jesus is a pointed reminder of the city’s infamous past disasters. The arrogance of thinking there was no need to be on guard against an enemy signifies a strong spiritual warning: true faith in Jesus within the church of Sardis was practically nonexistent. Their faith was only in past successes. To be fair, these represented progress but did not mean it was time to stop progressing. The danger of being ransacked by the adversary and destroyed altogether was (is!) real.
“Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent.” Yes, they had received and heard! They (we) are accountable for the rays of light that have shined into their (our) lives. “Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.”
Jesus compares Himself to a thief because of the element of surprise. Those who do not hope for, long for, prepare and watch for His return will be caught by surprise — and totally unprepared to meet Him when He comes.
Beloved, a life lived in anticipation of Christ’s return is a vibrant, growing life that is a channel of blessings to others. Let us diligently encourage each other… to get ready, be ready, stay ready for that glorious Day!
For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief… let us watch and be sober. 1 Thessalonians 5:2-4,6b
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 2 Peter 3:10
And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight—if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard. Colossians 1:21-23a