The Un-Series: Week 3 Day 5
Revelation 3:14-22 (ESV)
14 “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation.
15“‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, “I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing,” not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. 19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. 21 The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”
A true relationship with God entails understanding and confessing that we are completely and utterly dependent on Him. It recognizes that we are sinful to the core, only good and made new by Christ’s redeeming work on the cross. It is a realization that Jesus bore the sin and punishment for each of us on the cross and defeated death by rising from the dead. Quite simply, we owe everything to God.
Our downfall begins when we think we are self-sufficient, in control, and able to handle everything on our own. If you look back at Revelation 3:17, we read of how we can live in complete denial thinking that we don’t need the redeeming rescue of our Savior:
“‘I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing,’ not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.”
The reality is, no matter what our earthly circumstances are, we are wretched, poor, and unable to do anything on our own. True riches are not found in wealth, fame, or fortune, but instead are found only in recognizing and admitting our true sinful state and walking in complete obedience and dependence on God.