Key Verse: “I know your works; you have a reputation for being alive, but you are dead. Be alert and strengthen what remains, which is about to die, for I have not found your works complete before my God.” (Revelation 3:1b-2 CSB)
When Jesus said to His disciples, “Woe to you when all people speak well of you” (Luke 6:26), He didn’t mean that we shouldn’t care about our reputation with others. His point was that followers of Jesus who are living faithfully and fervently for the Lord will almost always draw some criticism. When everyone is constantly singing your praises and your approval ratings are always soaring with the world around you, it isn’t necessarily a good thing. In fact, according to Jesus, it’s actually a real problem.
This appears to be one of the most significant issues facing the believers in the city of Sardis, another one of the seven churches in Asia Minor (modern day Turkey) to whom Jesus wrote. From all outward appearances, things seemed to be going well for this church. “I know your works,” Jesus said to them. They were actively serving and doing a lot of good for the world around them. As a result, they had “a reputation for being alive” (v.1). As the eyes of the culture looked upon them, they were met with praise.
But Jesus had some hard words for them to hear. His indictment against them was, “You have a reputation for being alive, but you are dead” (v.1). Despite the good standing that the church had with the community around them, the reality was that this church lacked true and meaningful life. They had actually fallen asleep spiritually as they compromised and conformed to the world around them. Jesus’ evaluation was, “I have not found your works complete before my God” (v.2). They had fallen short and it was a serious problem.
So what was the answer? Jesus told them to “be alert and strengthen what remains” (v.2). He called them to, “Remember, then, what you have received and heard; keep it and repent” (v.3). The time was now to awaken from their spiritual slumber. They needed to repent or turn away from cultural conformity and compromise, and begin walking in true faith and obedience to Him. They needed to be less concerned with their reputation with the world, and more concerned with their faithfulness to God.
Let’s be honest. It’s easy to fall into the trap of hypocrisy and compromise like those in Sardis did. It doesn’t take much to dress up our lives in such a way that causes people to think well of us and invite their praises. Go to church, say the right things when you pray, post some encouraging Bible verses on social media, engage in acts of kindness to the poor and marginalized, and before you know it, you’ll have a reputation for being spiritually alive.
But remember, God sees past all of this. Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for their hypocrisy, saying, “You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence” (Matthew 23:25). If our hearts are not truly engaged with God and being transformed by Him, then Jesus will look upon all of our spiritual activity and deem it to be inadequate and meaningless.
As people look upon your life with Jesus, what do they see? Are you simply keeping up appearances by “holding to the form of godliness but denying its power” (2 Timothy 3:5)? Or are you truly pursuing a deeper Spirit-filled life with Christ? Invite the Holy Spirit to awaken your heart in a greater way today and strengthen you as you follow Him.
Prayer: Father, you see and know all. I don’t want to be conformed to the world around me. I want to experience a genuine and true Spirit-filled life. Awaken my heart and strengthen me, I pray. Complete your work in me more fully today. Amen.
Author: Jonathan Miller has served in pastoral roles for more than 13 years in churches in Barrie, Oakville and Burlington, Ontario. He currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer at Prison Fellowship Canada, a ministry that mobilizes and equips local churches to engage in the restorative work of prisoners, ex-prisoners, their families, and victims across Canada. Jon holds degrees from McMaster University and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He and his wife Adrienne have been married since 2004, and live in Burlington, Ontario with their 4 children. Jon’s greatest passion is to know Jesus and to see lives transformed by Him and for Him.
