Surface Christianity - Himalayan Heights – June 1 Readings: Revelation 3:1-6 – Sardis

 Revelation 1-5 - Seeing Jesus

All Scripture is God-breathed and useful, but there are some Scriptures that we can consider the Himalayan mountaintops of the Bible. In the next few months, we will be looking at a series of great texts that inspire and move us - the "Himalayan Heights" of God's Word.

Today's Reading:  Revelation 3:1-6

The last book of the Bible does exactly what its title says it will do, it reveals Jesus Christ to us in a way that is unique in Scripture.

“Write to the angel of the church in Sardis: Thus says the one who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars: I know your works; you have a reputation for being alive, but you are dead. 2 Be alert and strengthen what remains, which is about to die, for I have not found your works complete before my God. 3 Remember, then, what you have received and heard; keep it, and repent. If you are not alert, I will come like a thief, and you have no idea at what hour I will come upon you. 4 But you have a few people in Sardis who have not defiled their clothes, and they will walk with me in white, because they are worthy. 5 “In the same way, the one who conquers will be dressed in white clothes, and I will never erase his name from the book of life but will acknowledge his name before my Father and before his angels. 6 “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.

Through the Bible Readings: 2 Kings 7-8, John 9:1–18, Psalm 69:7–13, Proverbs14:13-14

If you wish to read through the Bible in a year, follow these readings. 

Devotional: Surface Christianity     

There may be no better picture of the American church than Jesus' description of the church in Sardis. In Revelation 3:1-6, he confronts them with devastating simplicity.

You have a reputation for being alive, but you are dead. 

No one but Jesus would have said that about Sardis. Everyone else would have described the church in glowing terms. Growing. Vibrant. Lively. I'm guessing their praise band rocked! Their hip preacher delivered the best sermon in Asia Minor. It was everything anyone would want a church to be. Other churches were jealous - if only we could be like Sardis. They attended seminars on the Sardis Model - how to make your church just like that one. Of course, this is all hyperbole, but Jesus' words are clear - they had a reputation for being a lively Christian church.

He saw something very different. He saw death. All their vibrancy, their liveliness, their excitement - it came from the flesh and not from the Spirit. They were able to make everyone else believe that it came from God, but in reality, there was no spiritual life. It was a fleshly imitation that could fool others, but not God. The world saw life but Jesus saw death. That which is built by the flesh, no matter how appealing it looks, is always death.

We worry so much about what people think about us, about our reputation and image. We devote much to managing our appearance, maintaining a positive public image, developing our brand, and controlling public opinion. But just because we look spiritual, or people think we are, doesn't mean that we are.

God wants reality. The world wants celebration, but sometimes Jesus demands brokenness and repentance. The world wants relentless positivity, but Jesus forces us to confront our negatives so that we can live in his blessings. We must abandon the flesh to walk in the Spirit, to live the life of God. When that happens, there is only one audience for our lives. We live to please him and him alone. What people think matters, but only a little. We want to maintain a good testimony and reputation, but we seek only to glorify God and our identity comes from his pleasure, not the world's.

Sardis Christians put the opinions of man ahead of the pleasure of God. They care more about what people think of them than if people are being drawn to God. Their focus is on the outside, not the inside. Sardis is a fake spirituality, one that impresses people but doesn't fool God.

And he's the one we ultimately answer too, right? Sardis is no place to live!

Father, I don't want to be a Sardis Christian. Help me to be real before you. 

Think and Pray:

How much do the opinions of people matter to you?
Can you say that God's approval and his glory are the driving focus of your life, or is pleasing people and managing the opinions of others about you what matters most?