Jump Start # 3667
Revelation 3:4 “But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; and they will walk with Me in white; for they are worthy.”
The troubled church at Sardis could well be a reflection of many places today. A history. A name. A reputation. The thought was that they were alive. But, they were not. God declared them to be dead. A lifeless church. Yet, among them and in this lack of life, energy and passion, our verse is found. There were a few, a faithful few, who were alive. Their garments were clean. They were declared worthy.
And, today, the sad report of lifelessness still lingers. Preachers that do as little as possible, sometimes preaching old sermons on Sunday and spending the rest of the week playing. Deacons who are not spiritual and some do not even attend very often. Shepherds who are out of touch with the flock and would rather talk about ballgames than the spiritual wellbeing of the flock. And, members who are so worldly one is shocked to find out that they are supposed to be believers. Yes, after all these years, and after great lessons and warnings such as found in the text, some continue the same practices that lead to spiritual death. However, when one dies physically, you can be sure, that the family wants the preacher to tell everyone that he was a good member and preach him into Heaven.
Lets focus on that “few” in Sardis. The life in the sea of death. There are lessons to be learned.
First, they were not following the crowd. Most were dead. They were not. Whatever took life, these few were making sure that they were adding life. And, in this, we find hope for us. Rather than waiting for a savior to arise to turn the direction of the ship, do what you can to keep yourself close to the Lord and being alive spiritually. Few attend. You attend. Few pray. You pray. Few invite people into their home. You invite. Few encourage the visitors. You encourage. Few engage in Bible study. You engage by participating, taking notes and learning. Few send cards. You send cards.
You are not following what others are doing. You are doing what you know is right, helpful and encouraging.
Second, it is easy for the few to become discouraged and likewise die. Why try, the few might say. Who cares, the few cry. But you know the Lord does. You know those who have spiritual life do. It’s hard to be life when all around you is death. It’s one thing if the dead were of the world and just didn’t care or know any better. But at Sardis, the dead were supposed to be disciples. They should have known better. They should have done better. It’s easy to complain about the lifeless members who do not seem to care. But in focusing upon that, it is easy to become what you complain about.
In a dead church, your encouragement will come from Scriptures, not those who are lifeless. It will come from other alive members. It will come from the Lord. It will come from disciples from other places. Keeping yourself going is important. One of the best ways of doing that is staying active and busy in the kingdom. If it’s not there, look beyond to other places. So many of our readers are sending these Jump Starts to others. Many have gotten our Jump Start books and have sent them overseas and to folks in prisons. Doing what you can is essential. As long as water moves, it will not become green and stagnate. The same goes for our spirits.
Third, through all of this, the apostle never suggested looking for another place to worship. Leaving the dead can seem very appealing. They don’t care, so why should I care about them, is a place we do not want to go. Keep praying for those who have lost their passion and focus. Keep doing what you have been doing. Stay with the truth and stay with the Lord.
You and your family may have to have special devotions in your home to keep yourself well fed spiritually. There are so many wonderful tools these days. A person can listen or watch a sermon every day of the week. Blogs, podcasts and many, many ways to keep yourself where the Lord wants you to be.
There was a few in Sardis. How easy it is for us to use broad generalities and declare that there is nothing good in Sardis. That’s not accurate. There were those few. I have found in a recent congregation of about a dozen people, some of the kindest, sweetest and dedicated hearts I’ve seen in a long time. Don’t judge a congregation by the size. Don’t judge the whole by the example of a few.
I wonder if the Lord were still sending letters today, if he would consider you and I to be among that faithful few or would He shake His head in disappointment because we died spiritually a long time ago.
The few—God bless them and keep the fires going.
Roger