It Starts Small

There was no praise from Jesus for this church. Its reputation alleged it was alive, but really it was spiritually dead. Since reputation is a good thing, this statement technically is considered a praise from Jesus. However, it’s clearly a hollow one. Sardis narrowly avoids joining Laodicea in receiving only words of criticism from Christ.

Jesus commands the church to wake up (verse 2). It had fallen into a slumber and supposed everything was running smoothly and perfectly fine. This church had taken for granted it could go on indefinitely without ever changing its attitude. It had assumed it could live on a “good” reputation, but it was their false assumption. They grew arrogant just liek those who once believed the city would never fall (See the Church of Sardis History) but little did they know it was headed for a disastrous fall.

Complacency was the enemy of this church. Jesus was encouraging them to wake up and be vigilant and strengthen the few good things that did remain. Jesus spoke that the church’s works were incomplete according to God and there was still work to be done for God.

Complacency is a powerful enemy that can gain a stronghold in our lives and the church. IT can cause us to to lull into satisfaction with the way things are. Refusing to make necessary changes to failed attitudes and programs causes people and churches to only dwell on what worked in the past or successes in the past. It is a refusal of planning for future victories, or seems to say, “we used to….” Complacency is the attitude of, “We’ve/I’ve never done it that way before.”

IN verse 3 we find a challenge from Jesus. He also warns the church at Sardis what will happen if they reject to the challenge.

Jesus challenges them to remember, recapture, and repent. The church (and us) needed to recall the truth it received when it first received it. It needed to recall the truth it had received when it first received it. Can you relate?

When we or the church leans away from the truth, we must remember our initial encounter with Christ. Jesus was challenging the church to repent – to change its mind. Instead of continuing to be in a slumber and thinking the current situation is fine, it was time to wake up. We cannot and the church cannot assume it has already “done enough” for God. If the church at Sardis did not wake up, Jesus would come like an unexpected and unwelcome thief.

Christians who slumber in complacency do not live up to their high calling in Christ Jesus. When Jesus comes unexpectantly, those slumbering believers will forfeit their rewards at His Judgment Seat.

¹³ each one’s work will become obvious. For the day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire; the fire will test the quality of each one’s work. ¹⁴ If anyone’s work that he has built survives, he will receive a reward. ¹⁵ If anyone’s work is burned up, he will experience^[a] loss, but he himself will be saved—but only as through fire.

1 Corinthians 3:13-15

¹⁰ For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may be repaid for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

2 Corinthians 5:10