March 21, 2023
“Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.” Revelation 3:17-18
At the time that Jesus delivered this message, the church in Laodicea mirrored the complacency of the city: pride in worldly accomplishments and material wealth. The total contrast with Smyrna is stunning. Smyrna was living in abject poverty materially, yet Jesus lavishes them with praise for their genuine faith by saying, “you are rich”!
But the wealthy church members in Laodicea are described with no less than five strong negative adjectives: wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked. The strongest Greek word for extreme poverty is used: ptochos. But they are blind as to their condition, which is a great irony considering their medical advancements in the area of eyesight. Jesus has not missed a single opportunity to state the facts and His counsel in terms that can be easily understood.
With all the literal gold stored in the banks of Laodicea, His counsel is: “buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich.” What is that gold? Faith! A faith tested by fire undergoes purification and growth, enduring until that Day… “that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:7)
The city of Laodicea produced a prized black wool that was glossy and desired for clothing by wealthy people from all over the known world. Jesus counsels His church at Laodicea to buy . . . white garments, that you may be clothed, clearly symbolizing salvation. Only Jesus can clothe us with the necessary “wedding garments.”
And lastly, Jesus counsels them to anoint…with eye salve in order to see the true state of affairs. “Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law.” (Psalm 119:18)
It is God’s eternal, unchanging law that points out to us our greatest need: that of a Savior! All of these things Jesus counsels to “buy.” What will it cost to buy these needed things? It will cost things such as pride, complacency, self-sufficiency, possibly even some relationships. When one lays such things at the feet of Jesus, He replaces them with the riches of humility, spiritual awareness, and dependence on Him. It is these attributes that are most likely to woo and win others into His eternal kingdom. May each of us, by God’s grace, joyfully declare:
“He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness.” Isaiah 61:10