LAODICEA
Laodicea was a wealthy, industrious city in the province of Phrygia located in the Lycus valley, about 45 miles southeast of Philadelphia and 100 miles east of Ephesus. It was a banking center for Asia Minor with a medical school specializing in eye treatment.
If we look carefully at the condition of churches today, it's not hard to detect the Laodicean spirit that is prevalent within, notably the independent and self-satisfied attitude of many well-to-do believers and their lukewarm participation in the church communities they belong to.
Verse 14
Notice the way Christ addressed the church by the name of the Laodiceans instead of the name of the city like in the previous six churches. It was run and directed by the members as if they had the final say while the Lord was relegated to a mere figure head and shut out completely (more of this in verse 20).
Christ identified Himself as the Amen—the One who has the last word, and He told the conceited Laodiceans straight in their faces as a faithful and true witness concerning their sad spiritual conditions. More than that, He reminded these proud believers who's the Real Boss—He's the Beginning, the One who precedes all of God's creation. We too had better wake up our own ideas if we ever think we had God tamed and boxed up in our petty little theologies and firmly under our control, including the way we do or play church.
Verses 15-16
No commendation. Straight to the point. Within two verses, Christ rebuked their lukewarm devotion (neither cold nor hot) three times. Do we still dare to take lightly as if it doesn't matter a bit? Be careful! The Lord will not tolerate such an attitude. We don't want to become distasteful to Christ and find ourselves spewed—in a literal sense vomited out of His mouth, do we?
Verse 17
The Laodiceans were letting the deceitfulness of riches and the cares of this life choke their spiritual vitality (Mark 4:19), and we know what the consequence is: a wasted and unfruitful life. And the fact that the Laodiceans didn't even realize their true spiritual state made it all the more tragic.
Verses 18-19
Despite the appalling way these believers treated the Lord, He still rebuked them out of love. Christ reminded them that earthly riches can only satisfy the body, but gold that is refined in fire—a pure, unadulterated faith that is devoted to Him—can nourish our soul (1 Peter 1:7-9). No wonder Augustine exclaimed:
Lord, Thou hast made us for Thyself; and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in Thee!
Our best effort to put up a spiritual façade and impress men outwardly will never fool God or others for long anyway; only the white raiment of Christ's righteousness can enable us by His grace to live a life that is clear of offence toward God and men (Acts 24:16). A superficial Christian life may fool others for a while but it will ruin us for eternity.
We are shortsighted if we invest the bulk of our lives for this world, and offer God only the scraps or leftovers—if we are even willing to squeeze out what precious little time from our busy schedules and plans—and all these while thinking that we're making a great sacrifice by doing so. Yeah, big deal.
The eye salve that Christ offers, is the anointing of our spiritual eyes by His Spirit, so that we can see beyond this present, temporary life and live in wisdom for eternity. When time finally runs out, our gains or losses will be permanently fixed. No more opportunities to live for Christ and preach the gospel, no more chances to exercise our spiritual gifts to build the kingdom of God. Worst still, the fire of God might even burn away the little that we thought we have! (1 Corinthians 3:13-15; Matthew 25:29)
While we still have the time and life, let us make every moment count for the Lord and for eternity. The aged patriarch Joshua (Greek, Jesus) challenges us thus:
If you find it wearisome and a chore to serve the LORD, then make up your mind who you really want to serve. (Joshua 24:15, paraphrased)
Still wishy-washy? Thinking to put it off a little longer until we have our fill of the world? For heaven's sake—let's make up our minds and stick to it!
A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. (James 1:8)
Verse 20
Many Christians apply this verse as invitation for unbelievers, when in fact Christ is talking to believers who had shut the door of their hearts to Him.
Imagine! How many rooms in our hearts are off-limits to the Lord? Christ desires to sup with us, to spend quality time in fellowship over an unhurried meal—His Word, the spiritual manna. We spend so much time over a good meal with our friends talking casual trivialities, and yet we're unwillingly to spend time communing with our Lord over the things that concern Him.
Each of us is given 24 hours a day and Christ will require us to give account on how we have use it when we stand before Him. Time is not for us to waste and kill away, especially after we have been redeemed by the Lord. He can take away our lampstand anytime without notice, so never assume time is on our side. It isn't.
The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. (Romans 13:12)
Verses 21-22
Though there is no commendation, Christ did not leave them empty without a promise. O what grace and mercy! And how undeserving we are! May we repent of our half-hearted love and devotion to the Lord.
Christ will grant the overcomer to sit with Him in His throne, just as He earned it from His Father through His obedience in doing the Father's will. Salvation is free but not cheap; rewards however, are earned and not a-given. Do we wish only to be saved by the skin of our teeth, or to be awarded the crown (stephanos) of an overcomer?
He who has ears to hear, let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches.
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