Revelation 3:1-6

Letter to the church at Sardis Revelation 3:1-6: Sardis was a wealthy city that had started to decline in the days of John. It was situated at the junction of several trade routes. It was a place of "easy money." It was a city of luxury. Sardis was also an immoral city. This church heard Jesus say, "These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars." Seven is the number of completeness. Jesus has the fullness of the Holy Spirit to use in helping the church at Sardis if they were willing to serve Him.

What Jesus knew about Sardis was a mixture of good and bad. They had a reputation of being alive and active. Things seemed good for the church. However, Jesus said they were dead. You see Jesus sees us for what we really are. It was not that they were loosing the battle against Satan. They were not even in the fight. What they were doing did not measure up to God's expectations. Being dead, the church in Sardis presented no threat to Satan. They were not even worth persecuting. Sardis was a church where proper form was maintained but heart and strength was all gone!

The Lord admonished the church at Sardis to, "Be watchful, and strengthen the things that remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee." The good things that remained were still wroth saving. Jesus had not given up on them.

There were a few, even in Sardis who were still pleasing to God. Even among the dead Christians in Sardis, there was still a faithful remnant. The promise Jesus gave to these faithful ones was, "they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy." These who overcome are assured of heaven. "He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life..." (Revelation 3:5) The Christ is saying that, if we wish to remain on the roll of the citizens of God, we must keep our faith alive and active! The idea of being blotted out of the Book of Life should be taken seriously.