November 25, 2021

And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: He who has the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars, says this: I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, and you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God. Revelation 3:1-2

Seven is used to denote completeness. Jesus identifies Himself as the Complete One who is addressing the church as it is making an exit from the Roman religion. As they proclaimed themselves free of false teachings, in reality they were still only on the way out. They had embraced truths of God which, in the “physics” of sound theology displaced error. But instead of continuing in the direction of gaining more truth (and displacing more error), they idolized the various leaders who had been God’s instruments. This hindered or halted the learning process. Without realizing it, they had fallen into the enemy’s trap of dividing the people of God. This incompleteness resulted in separate denominations and much confusion. Those who idolized individual reformers unwittingly replaced one form of idolatry with another—certainly not the intent of the godly men whom they intended to honor.

But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; and they will walk with Me in white; for they are worthy. v.4

The distinguished list of reformers serves as a great encouragement to us in these last days. They stood for truths in God’s Word that were made clear to them as they studied it. For centuries, it had been hidden from the illiterate masses and grossly misrepresented by the recognized, mainstream church. Through the Spirit of God they learned to look to Jesus who enabled them—by grace—to live up to the light they had been given; and to share it boldly.

Today we see the world in a downward spiral of sin and selfishness, just as Jesus described in Matthew 24. But, along with all the bad news, the “everlasting gospel” (Revelation 14:6) is being preached to everyone who will listen. May each of us heed the call of God in these last days, walking with Him in surrender of our will to His will; and total dependence upon the supply of His grace to meet each new challenge. Many will turn to the Lord for cleansing, healing, renewal, revival, reformation, and sanctification unto eternal life.

And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. Matthew 24:12-14