HOW INDIFFERENCE AFFECTS JESUS " . . . and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked" (Rev 3:17). -- Tomorrow:
"I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth." (Rev 3:14-22)
Devotion 10 of 20
Laodicea viewed themselves from the fleshly, or carnal, point of view. Christ views them as they really are. How different is His evaluation – and it is really the only valid one. "You do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked . . . " Think of the gravity of this pronouncement! This is Jesus' view of one of His churches, and it is concerning their very real condition
They were "WRETCHED," like a filthy and fatigued abject slave, with not so much as one comely aspect. In the eyes of Jesus, who had called them to be "arrayed in the fine linen" of righteousness, the Laodiceans were like a filthy and distasteful beggar, every whit defiled. They were not victors or overcomers, but had been trampled under the feet of the adversary over which they had once been given the victory.
Concerning their actual state they were "MISERABLE," most deplorable, and to be pitied by everyone who saw them. Rather than impressing insightful souls, and even angels, with their redemptive comeliness and grace, they were only to be pitied, for they wallowed in spiritual squalor. No light was emitting from them, no testimony, no witness of the grace of God.
Regarding their spiritual state they were "POOR," bereft of spiritual graces, without holiness, and ready to die. Even though they had been brought to a state where "all things" belonged to them (1 Cor 3:21-23), they were the tattered clothes of spiritual poverty, with no needed resources. They had ignored the treasures of wisdom and knowledge to which they had been granted access, and now they were "poor."
From the standpoint of their spiritual perception, they were "BLIND," the eyes of their understanding being darkened so they could not see the real things of God and Christ. They had reverted to the state from which they were once delivered, their hearts again being "blinded" (Eph 4:18). They could not see the things of God, understand them, or traffic in them. They had no spiritual vision or understanding, even though they had started their lives in Christ with open eyes and heart.
Looking at them from the viewpoint of standing before the Lord, they were "NAKED," stripped of the covering of mercy and grace. They had nothing to cover their shame, but stood like transgressing Adam and Eve before the very one who had once clothed them with righteousness. The sight of them was pitiful, and they brought reproach on the One who had once washed and sanctified them.
When the Laodiceans came into Christ, they were raised up with Him to sit in the heavenly places (Eph 2:6). They were made "kings and priests unto God" (Rev 1:5-6). But now they had degenerated into a state of wretchedness! They once had access to all the "treasures of wisdom and knowledge" in Christ Jesus (Col 2:3), having been elevated to be "the sons of God" (1 John 3:1-2). But now they had plummeted downward to a state of miserableness! Once their eyes had been opened to the glories of God and His salvation (Eph 1:18-20; Heb 10:32). But now they had reverted to a state of spiritual blindness! Once they had been made rich in Jesus, with "all things" belonging to them (1 Cor 3:20-23). But now they were again blinded to the things of God, unable to see what was once opened to them! Once they had been clothed with "the garments of salvation" (Isa 61:10, having "put on Christ" (Gal 3:27). But now they had fallen into a state of moral and spiritual nakedness, with nothing to cover them from the wrath of God!
It is difficult to conceive of the condition of a church being any worse. Here are FIVE CONTEMPTIBLE CONDITIONS, ascribed to a boasting and self-confident church! Forever blot from your mind the vain notion that once you are in Christ Jesus you are locked into a state of acceptance! This was a real church, with one of Christ's messengers. It was numbered among those in whose presence Jesus Himself dwelt. But they had become absorbed with the ways of the world, and had suffered remarkable loss. They lost their glory, becoming WRETCHED. They lost the privileges of sonship, becoming MISERABLE. No longer were they beholding the invisible God or the things of the Kingdom, but were BLIND. The incalculable riches they were theirs had been willingly forfeited in preference for other things, and thus they had become POOR. Although they had been clothed with the righteousness of Christ, they had cast it aside to become meshed with the world, and now stood NAKED before the Judge of all the earth. What a dreadful condition!
I would like to be able to say Laodicea was the last church that could be described in such a woeful manner. But it was not. It is quite possible there was only one church like this in Asia, but there are hundreds of them all about most of us. The condition Jesus described is no more acceptable today than when He said these words to the aging apostle on the isle of Patmos.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, raise up men who will speak frankly and truthfully to the church of our time.