In our study of the seven churches of Revelation we have come to the last church. Laodicea was a big town, a rich town. People loved their leisure, living in the lap of luxury. Laodicea reminds us of our own community, affluent and living the good life, but neglecting the Lord. However, the church is called to resist the influence of the world around it. But the Laodicean Christians did not listen to this warning. They began to take on the character of the society around them and they became materialistic in their thinking and behaviour.

As with the other letters, there is a pattern. Jesus reveals something of himself, his character, taken from the picture of Christ in chapter 1. Then a commendation, followed by a concern where he points out the troubles. Next, there is a corrective for the trouble, and finally, Jesus’ compassion.

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In our study of the seven churches of Revelation we have come to the last church. As in all the book of Revelation, the risen Lord Jesus initiates the action by sending each church a letter. He is the Lord; the head of the church and he loves his church. They belong to him, and he is vitally involved with them because he cares so deeply about them. They were seven literal churches that existed in John the apostle’s time and John had probably visited them, preached in them, and cared for them as a servant of the Lord. Each one of them was different in that they had varying strengths and weaknesses, just like the churches of today across the world. There is no perfect church, none without some trouble testing it. And if you find the perfect church, don’t join it, because it wouldn’t be perfect anymore.

Some travellers rescued a man from a desert island where he had been marooned for a long time. On it were three buildings he had built, so the rescuer enquired about them. “That first one is my home and the second one is my church.” “What about the third one?” the rescuer asked. “Oh yeah, that’s the church I used to go to.”

Let me give you a quick review of each church’s trouble, in a way you can remember:

1. Ephesus: What was their trouble? Lost priority. A great and busy church, but somehow, they lost the priority of loving Jesus first.
2. Smyrna: What troubled them? Lethal persecution. And many churches across this world are in a similar situation.
3. Pergamum: What did they have? Lying prophets. The truth was being twisted and lost.
4. Thyatira: What was their trouble? Lustful passion. They listened to Jezebel who seduced them sexually. Many churches have lost their way morally and it often begins with the leaders.
5. Sardis: What about them? Lazy passivity. They were asleep, dead, just going through the motions, and nothing was going on for Jesus.
6. Philadelphia: What did they struggle with? Little power. We don’t know what the power shortage was, but they persevered and got victory.
7. Laodicea: What about them? Lavish possessions. That was their temptation and they fell into the trap of materialism.

Laodicea was a big town, a rich town. It was a banking centre, a place where people went to get their loans. It was famous for wool production, especially black wool which was worn by the upper class. It had a medical school and was known for its eye medications. Archeological digs reveal many theatres, stadiums, and baths. People loved their leisure, living in the lap of luxury. In 60 AD an earthquake damaged the town. The townspeople took pride in the fact they could say no to help from the Roman emperor, and they rebuilt the town themselves. Laodicea reminds us of our own community, affluent and living the good life, but neglecting the Lord. However, the church is called to resist the influence of the world around it.

Love not the world, nor the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

1 John 2:15

But the Laodicean Christians did not listen to this warning even though they must have been often warned by John himself saying these very words to them. They began to take on the character of the society around them and they became materialistic in their thinking and behaviour. What is materialism? It is an attitude of heart that believes that the material things are more important than the nonmaterial or the spiritual things. So, things get measured by money. Jesus said,

No man can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

Matthew 6:24

Let’s look at our passage to see what Jesus says to this church. Let’s read Revelation 3:14–22.

As with the other letters, there is a pattern. Jesus reveals something of himself, his character, taken from the picture of Christ in chapter 1. Then a commendation, followed by a concern where he points out the troubles. Next, there is a corrective for the trouble, and finally, Jesus’ compassion.

Jesus’ Character (verse 14)

These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation.

Revelation 3:14

Amen is a word taken from Hebrew. We use this word at the end of prayers, but what does it mean? It is connected with the idea of truth and reliability. Interestingly, Jesus often used this word at the beginning of sentences, rather than at the end. “Truly, truly, I say to you.” In Hebrew he is saying, “Amen, Amen.” The word indicates the complete reliability of what he is saying. When Jesus says Amen, he is saying we must really trust his word. When we say Amen, we are saying we trust it. This church really needed a dose of Amen, of truth, because they had lost their way and wandered into ungodly thinking. The second description of Jesus’ character reinforces what he just said: the faithful and true witness. The next title, ruler of God’s creation, shows us why we ought to listen to Jesus. He is the boss, the head of all things, including us.

Jesus’ Commendation (verses 15 and 16)

I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

Revelation 3:15–16

In every other church there was something that Jesus praised them for. But for the Laodiceans there was nothing. ‘I know your works’ is all he said. But then added this word picture of how he felt. When entertaining someone you ask, “What do you want to drink, something hot or something cold?” Because both of those drinks satisfy. But lukewarm is not an option because it does not satisfy; in fact it is nauseating. Jesus looks at their small efforts to please him and he says in effect, “I am not pleased. You make me sick.”

The Laodiceans might complain that Jesus is hard to please, but Jesus also said this,

For whoever shall give you a cup of cold water to drink in my name, because you belong to Christ, truly I say to you, he shall not lose his reward.

Mark 9:41

It is because their works had not risen even to the level of a cup of cold water that he is dissatisfied with them.

Jesus’ Concerns (verse 17)

You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.

Revelation 3:17

See how far off the truth they were in their own estimate of themselves. We are not talking about the townspeople of Laodicea. That was their attitude. They were rich, so rich and proud that when their city was damaged by the earthquake, they told the Roman emperor they didn’t need help, they could do it themselves. But this is now the church talking and they are saying this not to the emperor but to the Lord. This is what materialism does, it blinds us to the truth of the spiritual state of things. We are not measuring things by God’s standard, but by an economic standard.

I once asked a man who used to have a Christian testimony how he was doing spiritually, and he ended up showing me pictures of his new boat and his boathouse.

Look at these words Jesus uses:

Wretched and pitiful

Wretched means down and distressed. We live in a rich society but never has there been such an epidemic of anxiety and despair. That is because riches and possessions do not give lasting happiness. There is the thrill of the initial purchase, but then that wears off and we need something else to satisfy us. That is why we have a discontent and a continual desire for more.

Poor

“We’re not poor,” they say. “Look at what we have.” But Jesus is talking about spiritual riches, the riches of God’s salvation, of his grace and peace and joy. From this perspective, they were way below the poverty line.

Blind

They were blind to spiritual truth because they were looking through the lens of materialism. They thought they were fine, but they were stumbling around in the dark wandering far from the Lord.

Naked

Their fine clothes and fancy attire may have impressed each other as they sought to keep pace with the fashion, but they in no way impressed the Lord.

Man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart.

1 Samuel 16:7

Jesus’ Correctives (verse 18)

I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes so you can see.

Revelation 3:18

The treatments and correctives Jesus prescribes would be understood by these believers in Laodicea, because they directly counteract the things the Laodiceans were most proud of.

Buy from me gold refined in the fire so you can become rich.

The Laodiceans prided themselves in their riches. Jesus is saying that instead of the gold in your banking system and in your bank accounts, I want you to become rich in the gold of heaven. What is that?

These [trials] have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

1 Peter 1:7

So, the gold of heaven is faith. Faith in the Lord.

And without faith it is impossible to please God.

Hebrews 11:6

How different from the self-sufficiency of these Christians who depended more on their goods than on God, more on their savings than on the Saviour, more on their gold than on grace. And the language of faith is prayer. The state of our faith is reflected in the fervency of our prayers. When things are tough, when trials come, we pray and choose to believe. But when things are good and we have plenty, like the Laodiceans, our faith dwindles. Then we say, “Thanks God, but I’ve got it from here. I’ve got all I need.”

Buy from me white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness.

The Laodiceans prided themselves in their textiles and manufacturing of fine clothing. Jesus offers spiritual clothing. What do whited clothes signify? Farther on in the book of Revelation, John tells us the answer.

For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear. (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.)

Revelation 19:7b–8

The righteous act of the saints are things done for Jesus by his people, for his pleasure, and by his Spirit’s enabling. When I am caught in the grip of materialism, I am no longer thinking to live for Jesus. I am in it for myself.

Demas was one of the young followers of Paul in his missionary journeys. He started out so well but then something happened. He got into the grip of materialistic thinking.

Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me, and has gone to Thessalonica.

2 Timothy 4:10

I know a man like Demas who started out so well. He even went to Bible School to prepare for a life of Christian service, and he married a Christian girl. But he got into business and found that he could do well. The more successful he became, the less he followed Jesus, the less he did for the Lord, until finally it was all business, nothing for Jesus. He became like Demas.

Buy from me eye salve to put on your eyes so you can see.

People came from far and wide to get the eye salve of Laodicea. Jesus offers them spiritual eye salve for their blindness. The apostle Paul prays this for the believers:

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you…

Ephesians 1:18a

A big part of spiritual sight is foresight. The ability to see the future and make plans today based on that sight. We would all want to know beforehand the investment that will bear fruit tomorrow. If only we could have invested in Amazon or Apple. God tells us in his word what will bring reward tomorrow. The Laodiceans were forgetting this future that God says awaits the believer. So, they weren’t hoping in the Lord and living in light of Christ’s plans and purposes for them for the future.

Over the breakfast table in our home as we grew up was a plaque that read, Only one life, it will soon be past. Only what’s done for Christ will last. That plaque was spiritual eye salve for me. Live your life for Jesus and you will be eternally blessed, rich in the reward of Christ.

Jesus’ Compassion (verses 19–21)

Those whom I love, I rebuke and discipline.

Revelation 3:19a

In light of all that has been said so far, the next statement in the text is so wonderful. He has just told them that they make him sick, so sick he wants to spit them out of his mouth. He is that displeased with them. Now he says, I love you. How can both of those statements be sincere?

That is because love is not a feeling, it is a commitment of the heart to bless. I’m glad my folks had that love for me. I remember when my three brothers and I were fighting and quarreling, my mother would say, “you make me sick, sorry, and tired!”, but that evening she still made supper for us because she loved us. And the very disciplines our parents gave us, painful though they were at the time, were acts of care, of love, designed not to destroy us but to build us up. This is even more true of our Lord. We are being trained for glory.

Now we get three aspects of that discipline following in quick succession, all demonstrating Jesus’ love for us.

So be earnest, and repent.

Revelation 3:19b

What a wonderful expression of love. The Lord is saying that we can get past the past and have a fresh start. We can recover from the sin of materialism and all the selfishness and spiritual ruin of yesterday, because God is a God of second chances. I love Charles Dickens’ story of Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol. He was a meanspirited and miserly old man steeped in materialism, but by the grace of God he was given a second chance and he took it. Repentance means a change of mind, leading to a change of behaviour. There is opportunity to change our ways, to have a fresh start.

Not only can we get past our past, but Jesus’ compassion is expressed in an even more wonderful way. We are able to discover the secret of happy living, and it is not the accumulation of earthly riches.

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.

Revelation 3:20

This is one of the most beautiful verses in the Bible, definitely a memory verse for all serious Christians. Now I know that this verse is used to preach the gospel, and rightly so. We become believers by asking Jesus to save us and come into our hearts. We open our heart’s door to the Saviour, and he comes in. But remember, Jesus is talking to the church, to believers, not unbelievers. Here is the sad fact: this church was so caught up in stuff and in material trappings that they didn’t even notice that the Lord was absent from their fellowship. But Jesus still loved them, and he was patiently waiting outside the church door, calling for admission.

Lord, we welcome you into our gathering at Oakridge Bible Chapel this morning. May you be the honoured guest. May we commune with you and may you be pleased to commune with us. The corrective for materialism is to fall in love once again with the Saviour, to open our hearts to him and fellowship with him today and each day. This brings the security we long for, the significance we seek, and it is the greatest measure of success in any day, living in communion with the Lord God. It is reserved for those believers who seek to commune with Jesus every day, who open the heart’s door and let him in as the honoured guest.

But there is one more gift of Jesus’ love and compassion. It has to do with the future.

To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I also overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne.

Revelation 3:21

Here is a great promise that Christ gives us for the future, that of sitting with him on the great throne of God at the centre of the universe and sharing in his glory. “What’s the purpose of all this pain? I feel like ending it”, a discouraged and struggling Christian asked me the other day. He was going through a very tough time in life, not the least of which was his poverty, and he was asking a legitimate question. But there is a wonderful answer in God’s word, and it is found here. The real success in life is not the glory that comes from material success, but rather sharing in the glory of Christ in his kingdom.

…if indeed we share in his sufferings, in order that we may share in his glory.

Romans 8:17a

Just as the promise of communion is for those open their hearts every day to Jesus, so the promise of future glory is reserved for those who choose to live for him every day, whether it is in pleasure or in pain, but especially in pain. Will every believer get to glory? Yes. Will every believer have the same experience of that glory in heaven? No. It is for those who endure for Jesus. It is for those who say no to materialism, who practice self-denial for the sake of Jesus and for the service of his Kingdom, no matter what the cost. They are the overcomers.

Four things to do to recover from materialism

1. Repent of materialism.
2. Dedicate money and possessions to God for his glory.
3. Pray for and seek for wisdom to handle resources.
4. Be a great giver.

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