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Sardis

Revelation 3:1-6 “‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’" (ESV)

     Sadly, I believe what is described above is what plagues many churches across the globe today and turns people away from Christianity. When churches profess they believe one thing, and fail to follow through, it doesn't exactly make outsiders want to learn more about what they claim to follow. And it certainly doesn't make them want to jump on that bandwagon! Our faith is defined by our lifestyle.

    What Jesus is telling the church in Sardis is that they have lost sight of the truth. When someone is born again, it is out of a pure desire to know Jesus. We didn't earn salvation and don't have to do anything to get it except to receive it. That is how our entire walk of faith should be. Those who have lost sight of who Jesus is are told to wake up! Strengthen the truth that still remains in you and turn back down the path of righteousness. We cannot continue to pervert Jesus with our rules and interpretations of the truth. Truth is truth and cannot be negotiated.

    If you have spent more time speaking about the truth and less time following through, repent. Recognize that Jesus only works when we follow Him with our lives, not just our words. If you've lost sight of Him somewhere along the way, turn back now. Take hold of the truth and follow it to the end. Then you will be as the ones described at the end of this scripture-- clothed in white with your name forever written in the book of life.

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