Inside out

The last letter to the church of Laodicea in Revelation 3 has often been associated with the final church on earth just before Christ’s second coming. Even the name, Laodicea, which means “the rights of the people”, seems appropriate for our litigious contemporary society. If this is true, the message relates directly to the fact that so few of us have experienced the indwelling presence of Christ described in Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3.

In the Laodicean letter, Jesus says, “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. 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. 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. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. 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.” (Rev. 3:15-20)

Jesus is recommending that we “buy” (pray for) gold refined in the fire. This is a common biblical metaphor for suffering (see 1 Peter 1:6-7). We also need something to cover our nakedness, a metaphor for the shame of our fallen nature, which is exposed by our self-sins. Finally we need salve for our eyes, “so you can see.” The implication is clear. We think we know so much, but we are really blind.

Just in case we missed this point, Jesus emphasizes it by comparing our self-confident perception with the pathetic reality of our true spiritual condition. We are “wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.”

Many Christians today might think we are in the “golden age” of the church because of our large institutions and international accomplishments. It is interesting to note that when Christ came the first time, the spiritual leaders of His day thought that they were in the “golden age” of orthodox Jewish practice.

The worst indictment of all is the fact that Jesus is outside the door knocking. I know that this verse is often used to present the gospel. The assumption is that once we say the prayer of faith, Jesus comes to live in our hearts and everything is good.

But, please notice that Jesus is talking to the church of Laodicea – a body of believers. Christ is outside of their lives and they don’t realize it. I believe this rebuke is for us. Most of us have not experience the indwelling presence of Christ described in Ephesians 3:14-21. We rely on our own resources – intellectual training, organizational wisdom, and human effort – to advance God’s kingdom.

In Ezekiel 10, the prophet has an amazing vision of the glory of God departing from the temple. The leaders were oblivious to his departure. Could it be that we are in a similar state? We have respected Christian institutions and industries but where is the glory of God?

In jars of clay

How does Paul’s description of his ministry compare to ours today? “For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.” (2 Cor. 4:5-10)

Do we see God’s “all-surpassing power” at work through those in ministry? Paul writes, “Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God. I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done – by the power of signs and miracles, through the power of the Spirit. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ.” (Rom. 15:17-19)

God isn’t into ministry “superheroes.” Paul tells us very candidly how it worked in his ministry. “When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.” (1 Cor. 2:1-5) And to the Colossians he writes, “We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.” (Col. 1:28-29)