Although addressed specifically to the church in Laodicea, the final letter to the seven churches in Asia could be taken as a warning to all churches to look in the mirror for indifferent behavior born of success and wealth:
“’”And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation”’” (Rev 3:14).
The apostle John is given words directly from Jesus declaring that Jesus is the “Amen,” which in the original Greek is a “strong affirmation of what is declared” (LN 72.6). Today we might say Jesus “has the final word” in all that we see and do. And the Amen identifies himself as the beginning of God’s creation. Surely this grabs the attention of the church at Laodicea:
“’”I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot”’” (Rev 3:15).
A cold drink on a hot day is a good thing, as is a cup of hot tea or coffee on a subzero winter day. But a lukewarm drink in extreme hot or frigid weather is awful:
“’”So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked”’” (Rev 3:16-17).
So what does it mean for a church to be rich, prosperous, and needless?
“’”I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see”’” (Rev 3:18).
Jesus is saying that churches who think they are above it all in terms of attendance and financial support appear naked to Jesus in the absence of humility. He is saying that they may be blind and in lukewarm disunity from God without realizing it. He concludes:
“’”Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches”’” (Rev 3:19-22).
Jesus is saying that just as individual persons often stand at the fork in the road to perfect unity with or disunity from God, so do churches. So churches too need to heed God’s warning and turn quickly toward the good fork through sincere corporate repentance.
Choosing perfect unity with Jesus means no less than, when he stands at the door and knocks at the door of our church, we will hear his voice, repent, and sit with Jesus on his throne.
The choice is ours, just as it was in Laodicea. Listen for the voice of Jesus.