The Dead Church
He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. ~ Revelation 3:5
Have you ever wondered how someone can sit in church, know all the right answers, sing the worship songs, and even serve in ministry, yet slowly drift away from the very relationship that brought them there in the first place? It’s possible to look spiritually alive on the outside while something is dying on the inside. That’s exactly what Jesus addressed when He spoke to the church in Sardis. They had a reputation for being alive, but Jesus saw something very different. He told them they were dead! That’s a sobering thought. It reminds us that what people see on the outside isn’t necessarily what God sees happening in our hearts.
There has been a great deal of discussion within the body of believers about eternal security and the question of whether someone can lose their salvation. Some believe in the doctrine of once saved, always saved, while others believe a person can walk away from their salvation. Having experienced seasons in my own life when my choices weren’t exactly pleasing to the Lord, I’ve spent time thinking about this very subject. I’ve come to understand some things through my own journey and through studying God’s Word that have helped me appreciate the importance of staying close to Him.
In today’s key verse, Jesus makes a promise to those who overcome. He says they will be clothed in white garments, and He will not blot their names out of the Book of Life. That raises an interesting question. Does this mean there is a possibility of names being blotted out? Does God actually have a blotter? I have to admit, that question never crossed my mind when I was younger because I held firmly to the once saved, always saved understanding of salvation.
Then I think about my own life. There were years when I lived in ways that were far from the spiritual life God wanted for me. Yet, even during those seasons, I still called on Him when I needed help, and He was faithful to come to my rescue. He didn’t abandon me. He continued to show me His mercy, even when I wasn’t making the best decisions. No matter how low I got, when I called out to Him, He was there. That experience strengthened my understanding of His faithfulness and the security we have in His love.
But then I heard about someone who had been part of the Christian faith for many years and suddenly decided they no longer wanted to be a Christian. This person publicly renounced their faith and their belief in salvation through the blood of Jesus. I was confused. Can someone do that? How does that fit with the idea of once saved, always saved? If salvation is a gift, can someone decide they no longer want it?
As I was thinking about this, I sensed the Holy Spirit speaking to my heart about the gift of salvation and the free will God has given us. If someone no longer wants His gift of salvation and love, they have the ability to reject what He has offered. Think about receiving a valuable gift from someone. The giver may have put a great deal of thought and love into giving it to you, but you still have the choice to receive it, treasure it, or walk away from it. The value of the gift doesn’t change just because someone chooses not to keep it.
It breaks my heart to think that someone could know about God’s love for years and eventually decide they don’t want Him anymore. Does that mean they were never truly saved, or did they make a conscious decision to walk away from their faith? Only God knows the condition of someone’s heart. I don’t believe we are called to make that judgment. What I do know is that Jesus took the condition of the church in Sardis seriously. He called them to wake up, strengthen what remained, remember what they had received and heard, hold fast, and repent.
That message is important for us today. We can’t become so comfortable with our Christian routines that we forget to nurture our relationship with Jesus. Attending church, knowing Scripture, serving in ministry, and being surrounded by other believers are all good things, but none of them should take the place of personally knowing Him. We can have a reputation for being spiritually alive while neglecting the very relationship that gives us life. Jesus isn’t looking for a religious performance. He wants our hearts.
Here are some practical ways we can strengthen our walk with Him and keep our hearts attentive to His voice:
- Make your relationship with Jesus a daily priority. Don’t let your time with Him become something you squeeze into whatever minutes are left at the end of the day. Start by setting aside 10 to 15 minutes each morning to pray, read Scripture, and spend time with Him. You don’t have to begin with an hour long Bible study and a stack of commentaries. Just begin somewhere and be consistent!
- Remember what you have received. This passage reminds the church to remember what they had received and heard. Take time to revisit the truths that first drew you to Jesus. Remember what He has forgiven, where He has brought you from, and how faithful He has been. Write down some of the ways He has worked in your life so you can revisit them when your faith feels weak.
- Strengthen what remains. Jesus told Sardis to strengthen the things that were ready to die. Ask yourself where your spiritual life may have become neglected. Have you stopped praying regularly? Have you allowed distractions to take the place of God’s Word? Start rebuilding those areas one decision at a time. You don’t have to change everything overnight, but you do need to take the next step.
- Hold fast to His Word and repent when necessary. Don’t ignore the Holy Spirit when He brings something to your attention that needs to change. Repentance isn’t about running away from God in shame. It’s about turning back toward Him and receiving His grace. When you recognize you’ve gone in the wrong direction, don’t wait until tomorrow to make things right.
- Stay connected to other believers. Surround yourself with people who encourage you to grow in your faith, pray with you, and point you back to God’s truth. We weren’t designed to walk this journey alone. Be intentional about building relationships with people who will help strengthen your walk with Jesus.
- Keep your heart tender toward the Lord. Don’t allow familiarity with spiritual things to replace a genuine hunger for God. Continue asking Him to teach you, correct you, and show you more of His love. A healthy relationship requires communication, and that means we need to do more than talk. We need to listen, too!
Today I want to encourage you to take an honest look at the condition of your relationship with Jesus. Don’t settle for having a reputation of being spiritually alive while neglecting the relationship that gives you life. Jesus called the church in Sardis to wake up, strengthen what remained, remember His Word, hold fast, and repent. That same message is a powerful reminder for us today. Your salvation isn’t something to take lightly, and your relationship with Jesus isn’t something to put on autopilot. If you’ve drifted, turn back toward Him. If you’ve grown comfortable, stir up your hunger for His presence. If you’ve allowed distractions to pull you away, make the decision to put Him first again.
Don’t wait until a crisis comes to discover how close you are to Him. Build that relationship today. He has been faithful to you, and He is worthy of your continued love, devotion, and obedience. Remember, Jesus isn’t looking for a name on a church membership list. He wants a heart that belongs to Him. Live in such a way that your faith is more than a reputation. Let it be a living, breathing relationship with the One who saved you!
Today’s scripture reading: revelation 3:1-6
1 “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write,
‘These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.
2Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God.
3Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.
4You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.
5He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.
6“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’
Journal:
- If Jesus were to describe the condition of your spiritual life today, would He see someone who is spiritually awake and growing, or someone who has become comfortable with the routine of Christianity? What might He be asking you to strengthen?
- Can you remember a season when you drifted away from God but experienced His faithfulness when you called on Him? What does that experience teach you about His love and mercy?
- Are there distractions, habits, relationships, or priorities that have been taking time and attention away from your relationship with Jesus? What is one practical change you can make this week?
- What does it mean to you personally to hold fast to your faith? What can you begin doing today to keep your relationship with Jesus strong and growing?
