“And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars.  I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God” (Revelation 3:1-2).

The danger of projecting an image is people seeing through it and finding out one’s not living up to it.  When Jonathan Aitkin brought his case for liable against a newspaper and Television program his defence was he would depend on: ‘the simple sword of truth and the trusty shield of British fair play.’[1]  However he’d lied and he was found guilty of perjury.  He lost his marriage, his fortune and his freedom.  There’s a happy ending as he eventually found peace and fulfilment in Christ.  But imagine how the Church at Sardis felt when Jesus basically says to them: “I’ve found you out!”

Visibly Sardis was probably a large lively Church.  No doubt the equivalent Church today would have the latest technology, a lively worship band and a charismatic Pastor, who, as their website says, gives ‘inspirational and empowering messages!’  But the problem was Christ had seen through them (v1).  The truth hurts at the best of times, but to be told: “you are dead” must be a devastating blow!

So what was wrong?  We cannot be sure, but we have some clues.  Firstly, although Sardis had a temple dedicated to the goddess Artemis, making it was as pagan as any city in Asia Minor, there’s no mention of any opposition!  Persecution is a notable feature, in these letters to the Churches.  Could it be their ‘inspirational’ Pastor, served up feel good messages that didn’t challenge anyone?  The second clue is found in the introduction of the letter which refers to: ‘the seven Spirits of God’ (v1, see Isaiah 11:2).  The Holy Spirit is essential in the preaching of God’s Word for a Church to have life, so it’s not stretching logic too far to suggest the Church was spiritually dead![2]  However empowering their Pastor’s messages appeared to be, they were the words of man, not God!

So Jesus urges them to: ‘Wake up’ and remember their first experience of the Gospel (v3).  They had received new life in Christ, but now they were killing any chance of spiritual growth!  Being on the side of a hill, Sardis was virtually impregnable from three sides.  The road leading into the city was well fortified.  Yet twice in its history the city had been caught unprepared and was conquered by stealth.[3]  The Church was so oblivious to their situation Jesus was going to come against them: ‘like a thief’ (v3) and catch them completely unawares which sounds ominous for the future of the Church.  But as before, Jesus has a promise for the faithful.  The phrase: ‘in white’ (v4) represents the holiness that Christ will give to those who have not ‘soiled their garments.’  What’s wonderful is that others in the Church could join them (v5).  The second part of the verse does not suggest that believers can fall away.  We have lost the idea of this today, but the Bible is often written in corporate terms referring as it does to the ‘people of God’.  So this does not mean individuals will be excluded from: ‘the book of life’ but that the future of the Church was on distinctly dodgy ground (v3).

Once again the passage ends with: ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches’ (v7).  This is surely a warning to a Church in any day and age to take a hard look at itself and to assess whether its works are: ‘complete’ (v2) in the eyes of Christ, because what role can we possibly serve if he finds us lacking where the work of the Holy Spirit is concerned?

Would like to listen to a sermon on this passage? A Church that’s all Style but no Substance!

[1]  Michael White, Political Editor, The Guardian, Tuesday 11 April 1995
[2] Steve Wilmshurst, The Final Word, The Book of Revelation simply explained (Darlington, Evangelical Press, 2008) 51.
[3] Leon Morris, Revelation (Leicester, Inter-Varsity Press, 1969) 75.