Alive And Well
And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. (Revelation 3:1-6)
Thought For Today:
Our name has a reputation. For example, George Washington. We immediately think of our first president. Abraham Lincoln, the freeing of the slaves and the Civil War. Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. Jesus is also attached to Christmas, Easter, the Cross of Calvary, and the Last Supper. The list could go on. The word of the lord spoke to the church at Sardis, "I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God."There is nothing hidden from God. Hypocrisy and a laziness are the sins charged upon this church. Matthew Henry said of this church, "She had gained a great reputation; it had a name, and a very honorable one, for a flourishing church, a name for vital living, for purity of doctrine, unity among themselves, uniformity in worship, decency, and order. We read not of any unhappy divisions among themselves. Everything appeared well, as to what falls under the observation of men. This church was not really what it was reputed or supposed to be. They had a name to live by, but they were dead; they had a form of godliness but not the power. They had a name to live by, but not the principles of life. Even though it appears that there was not much hardship in their life, yet there was a great deadness in their souls and in their services. Great deadness in the spirits of their ministers, and a great deadness in their praying, in their preaching. What little life that was left among them was ready to die." The church of today, who patterns itself after the name of Jesus Christ, must not be dead. After three days of being dead, Jesus rose again and is alive forever more; and all those who say they are born again, must be alive as well.
