Text: Revelation 3: 14-22
OPEN:
We encounter immediately the sharp contrast between the Lord's message to the Church at Philadelphia and his stern words to the Church at Laodicea. It's as if we have the best and worst case scenarios side-by-side so that it would be impossible to notice the stark differences.
Some background is in order:
The city of Laodicea was located about 100 miles directly east of Ephesus, the first city to which these seven letters were addressed.
Laodicea was part of a tri-city area, closely associated with the cities of Colossae (to which the letter to the Colossians was written), and Hierapolis.
The Church at Laodicea is mentioned in Colossians 4:16. In the year 361 AD a Council was held here which established the New Testament canon (which books to be included and those to be omitted).
Laodicea was noted throughout the Roman province of Asia for its wealth, its commercial life, and its medical practice.
As the banking center of Asia, it was the most prosperous of the seven cities. Many large, beautiful homes were built in this city, the ruins of which are still visible, and probably some of them were owned by Christians.
Laodicea also had a flourishing clothing industry. A particular breed of black sheep were raised around this area, and the glossy, black wool was woven into special clothes that were sold here.
The city was also noted for its medical practice, especially for its eye and ear salve. The medical cult of Aesculapius was located here. The symbol of Aesculapius, a staff with entwined serpents around it, is still the symbol of medical practice.
Laodicea was thus a kind of Chase Bank, Macy's Department Store and Mayo Clinic all rolled into one. That will explain some of the references we find in this letter to the church there.
As in all the letters, our Lord introduces himself in a very significant way. His opening description form the key to what the church needs:
"And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write:"The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the origin of God's creation." (3:14)
The first and last Word on everything is telling us spiritual apathy is disgusting and the remedy is communion with Christ.
I. Spiritual Apathy is Disgusting (vv. 15-17).
In every letter Jesus says, "I know your works." He is aware of what goes on in every church. He is watching us as well.
"I know your works; you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were either cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am about to spit you out of my mouth." (3:15-16)
There were two problems in this church:
1. There was something wrong with their commitment. They were neither cold nor hot. They were suffering from what someone has well called "the leukemia of non-commitment." I call it spiritual apathy.
The church at Sardis was a cold church, a dead church. It was as cold as death.
The church at Philadelphia was hot, alive, and vital.
But here in Laodicea was a church that was neither hot nor cold. It is merely lukewarm.
The word for hot is zestos, meaning to boil or seethe. This church is xlepos, meaning to become warm, tepid. Tepidness is not a rising from coldness toward the boiling point, but the opposite. This is water that was once boiling, seething hot, that has now cooled to being just warm.
Archaeologists have discovered an interesting fact about this city. It had no local water supply, but obtained their water through an aqueduct from the hot springs at Hierapolis, some six miles away. If you were staying in a motel in Laodicea and turned on the tap to get a cold drink, and tasted the water, you would probably spit it out again because it was tepid, lukewarm. Traveling that distance, the hot water had partly cooled down, and it would be nauseating, repulsive.
There is a word to describe this empty living. It is the word “apathy.” Apathy is a state of indifference — the concept derives from the Greek απάθεια (apatheia), a term used by the Stoics to signify indifference for what one is not responsible for. The concept was then re-appropriated by Christians, who adopted the term to express a contempt of all earthly concerns. The concept of apathy became understood in a different and more negative way by popular culture during World War I, in which the appalling conditions of the Western Front led to apathy and Shellshock among millions of soldiers. Many often had no emotion or thought process concerning killing/death in general.
A-pathos/apathy. Without passion. Without heart.
2. There was something wrong with their self-image. They thought they were rich, but they were really poor.
"For you say, 'I am rich; I have prospered, and I need nothing.' You do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked." (3:17)
What a sad condition! There is a big difference between "you say," and "you are." Our Lord points this difference out.
This church at Laodicea was smug, self-sufficient, complacent. They had plenty of money. Perhaps they had beautiful buildings, gifted preachers, a great choir, a great organ, and the respect of the community. They thought they were doing well. But when Jesus looks at it, he says, "You are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked."
The wealth of the Laodicean Christians blinded them to their true poverty.
Why such a difference in these two views? It is because they were being measured by two different standards. They measured themselves by the standard of the world around them. Christ measures us against the standard of the Cross:
The world values fame; the Cross values humiliation.
The world values exaltation; the Cross values crucifixion.
The world values wealth; the Cross values emptiness.
The world values popularity; the Cross values brokenness.
II. The Remedy is Communion with Christ (vv. 18-21).
"Therefore I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire so that you may be rich; and white robes to clothe you and to keep the shame of your nakedness from being seen; and salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see." (3:18)
1. Recognition is required to escape spiritual apathy.
The key to that verse is the three little words "buy from me."
What are we to acquire as we experience spiritual renewal?
1) First, "gold refined by fire."
This is absolutely pure gold, nothing impure or inferior about it.
The background for this statement is the wealth of the city and apparent wealth of the Laodicean Christians.
We'll never be boiling again unless our hearts and motives are pure.
2) Second, they needed white clothes: "white robes to clothe you and to keep the shame of your nakedness from being seen."
Every one of us knows something about ourselves that we would not want anyone else to know. But God knows! He sees us in our nakedness. What does he offer for it? The righteousness of Christ!
White clothes stand for a changed character; they mark someone who has taken his robes and washed them in the blood of the Lamb.
3) The third thing that is needed is eye salve.
Laodicea was noted for their eye ointment. But Jesus says they need spiritual eye salve that will enable them to see.
2. Continual communion is required to prevent spiritual apathy from occurring again.
"I reprove and discipline those whom I love. Be earnest, therefore, and repent. Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me." (3:19-20)
The way this is expressed in the Greek language does not refer to a momentary standing and just a knock or two and then indignant departure if the door is not at once opened. He comes and will wait and knock again and again.
I have heard this passage used most often in evangelistic appeals, but this is not a statement of conversion, but one of communion. Remember, he is addressing people who once were boiling hot but now have cooled to a nauseating state. He is saying that this is the path to regaining spiritual fervor and vitality. This is the way to be passionate once again. It comes not from reading about Jesus Christ, but communing with him.
My good friend calls this "a table for two."
Meal time was the most intimate time for oriental families.
This is not an intermittent, hit or miss kind of relationship. This is a mindset and an action. It is possible to practice the presence of God on a continual basis by having your thoughts turned toward Him. We need to match that with actual time spent with him apart from any other distractions.
CLOSE:
Laodicea is the lukewarm church that once was boiling hot and has grown tepid; the church that is proud and self-satisfied. No rest is made other than the statement of fact, "I will vomit you from my mouth.'
Spiritual apathy is disgusting and the remedy is communion with Christ.
Were you once red hot in your devotion to Christ, but have since cooled to the temperature of those around you? Then it is time to regain your passion for Christ by relishing your relationship with Christ.
(Dr. Dane Fowlkes)
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