“My advice to you is to buy from me that gold which is purified in the furnace so that you may be rich, and white garments to wear so that you may hide the shame of your nakedness, and salve to put on your eyes to make you see”. Revelation 3:18 Phillips
This is a call from Jesus to the lukewarm and self-deceived church of Laodicea, urging them to exchange their false sense of material security for true spiritual riches. This is an urgent call to you and me today, people that profess to be Christians.
Satan does not have to do much work at deceiving. What does “self-deceived” mean? They are doing it to themselves by believing that their good Christian behavior of obeying all the doctrines and commandments will save them.
“But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked”. Revelation 3:17 NIV
Gold refined by fire: Represents genuine, tested spiritual wealth and true faith. The Laodiceans boasted of their physical wealth, but Jesus offered them an eternal, untainted faith that can withstand spiritual testing.
White garments (clothes): Represents Christ’s righteousness and righteous deeds. While Laodicea produced famous black glossy wool, believers needed spiritual clothing to cover the “shame” of their sin and moral nakedness.
Eye salve (eye ointment): Represents the spiritual discernment granted by the Holy Spirit. The church thought they could see clearly, but they were spiritually blind to their actual wretched condition before God
They have worn the garments of their own devising, by works of their own they have tried to cover their sins and make themselves acceptable with God. Adam and Eve were the first to do this by sewing leaves together to make themselves acceptable to God.
“The man who came to the feast without a wedding garment represents the condition of many in our world today. They profess to be Christians, and lay claim to the blessings and privileges of the gospel; yet they feel no need of a transformation of character. They have never felt true repentance for sin. They do not realize their need of Christ or exercise faith in Him. They have not overcome their hereditary or cultivated tendencies to wrongdoing. Yet they think that they are good enough in themselves, and they rest upon their own merits instead of trusting in Christ. Hearers of the word, they come to the banquet, but they have not put on the robe of Christ’s righteousness”. COL 315
The heavenly principles that distinguish those who are one with Christ from those who are one with the world have become almost indistinguishable. The line of demarcation is indistinct. The people are subordinating themselves to the world, to its practices, its customs, its selfishness.
The man at the feast did not notice he was wearing his own garments. He did not think he needed to be washed by the blood of Jesus and be clothed in the white robe of righteousness. He thought he was going to live in heaven because he was a Christian and obeyed the commandments and doctrines.
The rich young ruler was perfect in his eyes by keeping the commandments his whole life. Yet when asked to be transformed, he refused.
“The righteousness of Christ will not cover one cherished sin. A man may be a law-breaker in heart; yet if he commits no outward act of transgression, he may be regarded by the world as possessing great integrity. But God’s law looks into the secrets of the heart. Every act is judged by the motives that prompt it. Only that which is in accord with the principles of God’s law will stand in the judgment”. COL 316
The hearts of many Christians are deeply moved by a sense of the sin that crucified the Son of God. They were convicted. They saw the steps to be taken in conversion; they felt the power of the gospel; their hearts were made tender as they saw the sweetness of the love of God. They beheld the beauty of the character of Christ. But with the many it was all in vain. They would not surrender their own habits and character. They would not put off the garments of earth in order to be clothed with the robe of heaven. Their hearts were given to covetousness. They loved the associations of the world more than they loved their God”. COL 318
When Jesus tells them to “buy” these things without money (as they are spiritually poor), it denotes a spiritual transaction. It means abandoning self-sufficiency, control, pride, and worldly reliance, and turning to Christ in repentance to receive His grace as a free gift
Look, I come like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed.” Revelation 16:15 NIV
This verse reminds me that every morning I need to surrender completely to God, give up worldly ways, thoughts and remain clothed in His righteousness.
Remember it is not a religion it is a relationship.
Prayers and Love for all.
Larry
