True spirituality or just a glossy disguise? (Rev 3:14-22)

Introduction

We’re going to delve into Revelation chapter 3, focusing on the messages to the churches. We’ve been exploring meals with Jesus, particularly those mentioned in John’s writings. Now, we’ll examine two meals referenced in Revelation, offering a slightly different perspective on these encounters with Jesus. This passage culminates in an invitation to a meal, so keep your Bibles open to Revelation chapter 3. Let me start with a story to illustrate the core message.

Receive The Report

The Reliability Of The Report

The first thing we’ll consider is the report from Jesus, and the call to receive it. Some reports are dreaded, some are unhelpful, and some, even if they contain bad news, are essential. Consider the situation with termites in my parents’ house. The decorative varnish hid the destruction happening behind it. We needed a proper assessment, a reliable report, even though it meant stripping away the surface. This is what’s happening here. It’s a report we should desire, and it’s a reliable one. The message is addressed to the church, specifically to the “angel,” or messenger, of the church. The reliability of the message stems from its source: Jesus. The message comes from “the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s new creation.” The “Amen” isn’t just a word of agreement; it’s the affirmation, the truth. Jesus is the one who originates and affirms everything. He’s the architect and engineer who signs off on the plan. This is a report we should desire because it’s reliable, coming from the one who put everything in place and affirms it at the end.

The Damning Nature Of The Report

This report, however, is quite damning. Of the seven churches addressed, only one doesn’t receive any positive comments, and that’s the church in Laodicea. The message in verse 15 states, “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.” The illustration is clear: hot coffee or tea is enjoyable, as is iced coffee or tea. But lukewarm is undesirable. If we understand hot as being on fire for Jesus and cold as being against Jesus, why is lukewarm so undesirable? The problem is that lukewarmness disguises the destruction. The glossy ritual of the church hides the rot underneath. This religious prosperity, this richness of ritual, might hide a rotting of spirit. This is what Jesus said about the religious leaders of his day, calling them whitewashed tombs. They looked clean and new, but inside was death. This is the same message to the church in Laodicea. It’s a damning report, but we need to desire it.

Receive The Riches

The Economy Of The Kingdom

Jesus doesn’t leave us in the place of the damning report. He wants us to receive the riches of the kingdom. The report says, “You are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.” Verse 18 then says, “I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so you can become rich.” This doesn’t make sense on the surface. How can you buy something if you have nothing? This is a description of the economy of the kingdom, which is grace. It’s a free gift. The currency of the kingdom is our own need. We must recognize our bankruptcy to buy the gold. Isaiah 55 says, “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat!” There is a cost, but it’s not paid by us. The price has been paid by Jesus. We are invited not to stay in the place of the damning report, but to receive the riches of the kingdom. There’s a completeness to the provision. We are poor, naked, and blind. We are offered gold, clothes, and ointment. We are wretched and miserable. We must receive the riches.

Receiving The King

With the riches, we receive the king. This comes in two parts: a rebuke and Jesus at the door. Verse 19 says, “Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.” This is the love of Jesus, giving us a true report for our own good. The rebuke comes with a solution. Jesus isn’t just giving us bad news; the bad news leads to the good news. Jesus speaks more about judgment than anyone else in the Bible, because he has the authority and offers the solution. Verse 20 says, “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 that person, and they with me.” This is the meal we come to as we think about meals with Jesus. It’s an invitation to an intimate relationship. It’s a persistent knocking, a promise of an answer, and a meal provided. We are in danger of letting glossy ritual hide the fact that our hearts are far from God. We need to be true and open with ourselves and with the Holy Spirit as we wrestle with that in ourselves. Or maybe we’re in a space where we’ve never been in relationship with Jesus and we’ve been trusting in rituals, trusting in the things we’re doing and never truly opening that door to have that meal with Jesus. That’s the invitation for us. Not that we missed the opportunity and he knocked and left but he is there knocking and imitation is relationship.