Don’t be Caught Napping

Revelation 3:1-3 I know you works, you have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up… remember what you received and heard. Keep it and repent.
Revelation 3:15, 20 I know your works, you are neither hot nor cold… behold I stand at the door and knock.
Psalm 119:111 Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart.

The story of the city of Sardis (Revelation 3:1-6) is an interesting one. A number of commentaries noted this as they related the story to what God says to this church. Here’s what J. Vernon McGee said:

Sardis was located on the top of a mountain. It had one entrance on the southern side which was the only way you could get into the city in the old days. Therefore, all that Sardis had to do was to put a detail at that one place to watch the city. But on two occasions in their history they had been invaded by their enemies because they had felt secure, believing that the hill was impregnable, and the guard went to sleep on the job. In 549 a.d. the Medians of Cyrus scaled the parapet, and then again in 218 a.d. Antiochus the Great captured Sardis because a Cretan slipped over the walls while the sentries were careless. What the Lord says to this church at Sardis is this: “You wake up and watch out!” This was embarrassing because of the two occasions in their history when they had been caught napping. He says to the church, “Don’t you go to sleep!”

What a contrast to David in Psalm 119:97-120. “I love your law, I meditate on it all day (Ps 119:97) They are ever with me. (Ps 119:98) They are my meditation. (Ps 119:99) Because of this David recognized that he had become wiser than his enemies, and had more understanding that his teachers and the elders. God’s Word had become sweeter to him than honey to his mouth. (Ps 119:103)

The exhortation to the church at Laodicea takes it a step further. They had strayed so far that Jesus was no longer inside the church. He is outside, knocking on the door. They were functioning completely without Christ. The activity of the church was therefore completely god-less, without God.

Wiersbe said, “Like the times Sardis was captured, it is when the church leaders and members get accustomed to their blessing and complacent about their ministry that Satan finds his way in. Wake up! Be Watchful! Repent! Remember the Word you have received and obey it. This is the formula for revival.”

My prayer for you today is that your relationship with God will not be lukewarm. That you will not be complacent. But that you will pursue God like David did. That your relationship with God would become the joy of your heart.