Unconditional Acceptance, Conditional ApprovalShembull

Clothed in White

Revelation 3 is a message to a complacent church. John is writing to the church in Sardis, known for its reputation but lacking in spiritual substance. The church may appear impressive, but its members are spiritually asleep and apathetic. The religious world may applaud them, but the God of the universe is not impressed.

The call to the church in Sardis is a great reminder for us. It is easy to rest on our laurels, relax, and let someone else take care of what we are supposed to manage. It is easy to go with the flow without resisting, not speaking up to avoid discomfort, while maintaining the appearance that everything is fine. We can easily become complacent and conform to the rules of the majority, but Jesus calls us to wake up, come back to life, and reclaim the territory of our choices, our perspective, and our influence.

It is easy to settle for a life of religious appearances, for the semblance of righteousness, and act for the superficial applause of people. But God sees it all. He evaluates the heart and weighs our motivations. In the end, you cannot escape reality. John speaks of these facades as soiled clothing, while white garments are evidence of those who have received salvation through Jesus Christ—those who have been cleansed from their sins.

We are called to overcome our apathy; to turn routine into an opportunity rather than an obstacle. We are called to have a better perspective and an eternal vision; to see the truth through the eyes of faith. We are called to illuminate this world with God’s light, and to be the salt that gives flavor to this earth.

Actively seeking the truth is the breath of life for our circumstances. It awakens us to who God is and what He is doing. It tells us what possessions are truly worth pursuing—the most important being recognition and praise from the Father.

Putting God’s Word into action involves effort. It entails risk. There is potential exposure in the act of getting up from the couch or stepping out from backstage in our attempt to overcome apathy, but the reward outweighs the risks. The reward is God’s eternal approval.

Lord, allow me to be a change agent for those around me, to see others with Your eternal vision, and to seize opportunities to bring them closer to You. Thank You for helping me speak Your eternal truth to others.