DEAD OR ALIVE?

"…you have a reputation for being alive – but you are dead. Now wake up! Strengthen what little remains for even what is left is at the point of death. Your deeds are far from right in the sight of God. Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly and turn to me again. Unless you do, I will come upon you suddenly, as unexpected as a thief. Yet even in Sardis, there are some who have not soiled their garments with evil deeds. They will walk with me in white, for they are worthy." Revelation 3:1b-4

In Chapter 3 of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, Jesus continues having John write down letters to the seven churches. In His letter to the church in Sardis, Jesus highlights a concern over the lifestyles of the people there. Specifically, the people have turned away from living their lives for the Lord ("your deeds are from right in the sight of God") and they have drifted so far that Jesus tells them that they are spiritually dead ("but you are dead").

The problem of dying away spiritually was not a new one. Jesus forecast it would happen as He instructed His disciples and us as well through His word when He said, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers…" (John 15:3-6) Spiritually, we only stay alive if we stay connected to Jesus…to His Word…to His Will…and to His Way. Through previous entries, I have highlighted the dangers of living in the world and its ways vice living in the word and the ways of the Lord. The world we live in entices us to adopt its way, ever more pulling on our respective branches to see if we will break away from the Vine. And many branches every day are removed …removed from the One true source of spiritual life…destined to wither and die.

Question: Are you attached to the Vine or have you allowed yourself to be removed from Jesus? Are you spiritually alive or near death like the people of Sardis?

If you have fallen away from Jesus, hear His words to the people in Sardis and hear them as words to you as well. For Jesus said, "Go back to what you heard and believed at first, hold to it firmly and turn to Me again." Jesus is calling for Sardis and us as well to get back to basics. Go back to the root of your Christian belief system….the Gospel of Jesus. "For God so loved the world that He gave His Only Son, so that who so ever should believe in Him will not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) Real life, now and after death, only comes through Jesus, our Savior, who will receive you back if you have drifted. "Turn to Me again", He urges.

So where are you today? Are you in a place where you need to turn back toward Jesus? Are you dying away spiritually? Or are you firmly attached and living in obedience to Jesus’ Will for your life? Some in Sardis were and Jesus commended them saying, "there are some who have not soiled their garments with evil deeds. They will walk with me in white, for they are worthy."

Dead or alive? It’s a question only you can answer. Your very hope of eternal life is at stake. Please choose Christ…choose to "walk in white" and live in purity…be obedient and faithful to Him…model His life in yours…and stay attached to the Vine…forever.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.

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