“And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, ‘These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels” (Rev. 3:1-5).

The church at Sardis was chastised by the Lord for their lacking works. Consider some facts about this church.

A Dead Church:The Lord said that the church at Sardis had a “name that you are alive, but you are dead” (Rev. 3:1). He based this condemnation on their works. There are many churches that have a name that they are alive. Perhaps this is because of the size of the congregation or their past good works. However, if the work of the Lord is not maintained in a church, the church will die in the eyes of the Lord. A local church’s profitableness is not gauged by the opinions of men – it is determined by its faithfulness unto the Lord!

A Church In Need Of Strengthening: The Lord besought the church at Sardis to “Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God” (Rev. 3:2). There was still some goodness to be found at Sardis, yet it had become so diluted and weak that it was near death. The old adage “if you don’t use it, you lose it” holds true. A church needs to constantly strive to perfection in the sight of God. Paul tells us that the church is “…joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love” (Eph. 4:16). The church will only grow and be strong when all are seeking to serve the Lord and one another.

A Church In Need Of Remembering:Jesus encourages the church at Sardis to “Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent…” (Rev. 3:3). Man is oftentimes forgetful. The church at Sardis was in need of remembrance of the things they had been taught that they might return unto them in repentance. Many churches have forgotten the teachings of the Bible and therefore have refused to stand in them. They, like those in Jeremiah’s day, when encouraged to walk in the “old paths” say, “We will not walk therein” (Jer. 6:16). May we be a church that always remembers.

A Church With A Remnant:Despite all the problems, there were a “few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments” (Rev. 3:4). Jesus said that these would walk with Him in white for they were worthy. This remnant had remained faithful to the Lord. May we never forget our responsibility to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil. 2:12).

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches”

David Eldridge