Jump Start # 1235

Revelation 3:3 “So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. Therefore if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you.”

  Our verse today comes from the admonition addressed to Sardis. The Lord knew what was going on. They had a great reputation, a name that they were alive. This would have been the general thought among brethren. Romans and pagans would not know, understand, nor care what God’s people were doing. However, among Christians, the church at Sardis was the place to be. They were thought to be alive. Much activity. Much busyness. Christians from other places may have tried to model what was going on at Sardis. But something was not right. Something was missing. Jesus knew. Their reputation was a cover. What was really going on was much different than most thought. They were dead. Lifeless. No faith. Apathy and indifference and being caught up in the world choked and killed what faith they had. Sure they still met as a church. Services were conducted. Plans were made. They still looked good on the outside, but on the inside, there was serious trouble. And Jesus knew.

A few were awake. A few had not been ruined. A few were still faithful to the Lord. These thoughts lead us to a few observations:

First, I don’t have to go along with what others are doing. Most at Sardis were dead. Not all. You can still shine, be faithful and please the Lord in a dead church. These verses prove that. Too often, when everyone around us is dead, we just complain and give up. We use them as an excuse for not doing what we ought to. We point our fingers at others but allow our own faith to die. It doesn’t have to be that way. For many today, as with the folks at Sardis, you do not have the option of just going to another congregation. There is no other congregation nearby. You have what you have. Some congregations lack vision, leadership, heart and hope. They are stuck doing things the way they always have. Nothing is working and no one is stepping up to try something else. Slowly, one by one, members die. Things are stale, sour and negative. More time is spent talking about what’s wrong with others than looking in the mirror. Within a generation or two, that congregation won’t be meeting any more. But that doesn’t mean you have to die along with it. You can still extend hospitality in your home. You can invite others. You can teach the Bible out of your home. I have seen amazing things that take place in a congregation. One family, just one family, can change the atmosphere of an entire congregation. One family moves in that is sour, complaining, against everything, and like mold on a wall, it just spreads and kills a congregation. I’ve also seen one family move in who were alive, exciting and wanting to do things. They had the heart of a servant and before long, others have caught their spirit and things brighten up. One family. That one family could be your family. Don’t throw in the towel because everyone else has.

Second, it is possible to change. That’s the hope given to Sardis. The Lord is optimistic. If they will but wake up, remember and get about doing what they should, the direction of that congregation can change. This happens when the individual people change. Stingy people can become generous. Hard, demanding people can become forgiving. Stubborn people can become submissive to others. Ignorant folks can learn. Dead faith can be awakened and resurrected to what it ought to be. God hadn’t given up on Sardis. Not yet. Sometimes we do not allow folks to change. We see them one way and that’s the way they are for the rest of their lives. Not so. People change. Congregations change. The living word of God intersecting with honest and good hearts will bring about great things.

Third, Jesus expected the folks at Sardis to be responsible and take care of things themselves. They were in a desperate situation. They were dead spiritually. They could awaken. The help wasn’t coming from Corinth, Rome, Jerusalem, a visiting apostle, Timothy or Apollos. These thoughts are addressed to the people of Sardis. They alone, with the word of God, could turn that ship around. That’s wonderful news. Open up that Bible. Start really chewing, digging, looking, and believing. Pray powerful prayers. Count on one another. Get busy. Help isn’t coming from afar. The help is there. It’s among the people. It’s about time churches started asking themselves, “Are the best days ahead of us, behind us, or right now.” How they answer that question tells you what their mindset already is. Some may have already given up. The best days are in the past. Pack house. Great preaching. Strong leadership. That’s how it once was. But now…Sardis may have felt that way. Jesus didn’t. Wake up. Remember. Get busy.

It’s time we took responsibility for our faith and stop blaming the church for our lack of knowledge, activity or hope in Christ. Sure things may stink down at the church house. There may be all kinds of problems, fighting, jealousy, and indifference. That doesn’t mean I can be the person Jesus wants me to be. My faith is not lived through the church, it is linked directly to Jesus Christ. I can soar with the Lord even when others can’t tie their shoes spiritually. We know what to do. Don’t wait for others. Do what you can. Pray often and deeply. Walk by faith. Believe and trust in the promises of God. Shine your light everywhere you can. Grow. Be strong in the Lord. Worship enthusiastically. Attend all the time. You’ll feel tried and alone. You’ll feel like you do it all. You’ll think no one else cares. May be that’s true. Do it anyway. Do it because it’s right. Do it because there may be others who are counting on you that you do not realize.

I have seen dead churches. Sad, sad, sad. I have seen churches that are truly alive. Exciting. Busy. Faithful. Everyone wants to be part of the live church. These things do not just happen. It’s not based upon location, size or the building. It’s when the people, one by one, decide to believe in Jesus and do what they should. They don’t wait for others. They move by their own faith. Their faith is alive. Together, the church becomes alive.

So it starts with you. It starts with me. Where are you and the Lord at? Get your faith where it needs to be. Work on this at home. Develop spiritual habits. Get strong. Then work on your family. Then it will trickle to the congregation. It starts with you.

Roger