By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo
Revelation 3:1-2 “To the angel of the church in Sardis write: “This is the message from the one who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know what you are doing; I know that you have the reputation of being alive, even though you are dead! So wake up, and strengthen what you still have before it dies completely. For I find that what you have done is not yet perfect in the sight of my God." - GNB
The church in Sardis had a reputation of being alive in God according to their onlookers. But to Jesus, the story was different. He saw them as dead before Him. How could this be? It probably means they cared more about what others saw and said about them than how God saw them. Their desire to impress and please men externally was given more attention than their actual state of heart with God. And their relationship with God suffered to the point of dying. Alive to people. Dead to God!
They were asked to quickly salvage the little of their relationship with God that was even dying. Many there are whose main concern is public opinion. They live their lives by how others view them. They ignore God and the state of their hearts with God suffers and dies. There is no benefit in pleasing people, being well spoken of as your connection to God dies. Jesus warned of gaining the whole world and losing your soul.
God’s report of how we really are before Him is more to concern us than what people say. At the end of it all, it is what matters than anything else. Let the public fruit of our lives be a result of a living relationship and God’s working in us. Then our works will be complete before God and a blessing to others. Consider the state of your relationship with God!
Mark 8:35-37 "For whoever wants to save his own life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. Do people gain anything if they win the whole world but lose their life? Of course not! There is nothing they can give to regain their life."
Shalom children of God.