“You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked” (Revelation 3:17 NIV).
It’s striking to witness the disparity between the Laodicean church’s view of itself and Jesus’ appraisal of their true condition. In fact, Jesus’ view of the Christian community in Laodicea was 180 degrees removed from the opinion they had of themselves. The members of the Laodicean church might have avoided that disconnect if they had sought a more accurate understanding of God’s Word. Instead, their positive self-assessment was erroneously based upon their financial status, despite repeated warnings from the Scriptures that caution us to avoid that metric.
This example highlights the ease with which we can deceive ourselves regarding our spiritual welfare. For instance, let’s consider those who believe that their participation in a past religious ceremony is sufficient to guarantee their spiritual well-being. Or perhaps they may rely on their charitable gifts or good works to assure themselves of a positive entry into the afterlife.
The issue is that God’s Word does not support those views. Those who seek to be accepted by God must approach Him through the mediator He has established. That mediator is Christ, for “...there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus…” (1 Timothy 2:5). As Jesus Himself once said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). Much like the church at Laodicea, we are sure to run into similar trouble if our beliefs regarding these essential doctrines fail to align with God’s Word.
So, how can we account for the Laodiceans’ distorted self-image? Well, Revelation 3:17 alludes to their wealth and self-sufficiency. These qualities are normally positive and desirable, but like most things in life, their value depends on how we use them. Unfortunately, the Laodiceans’ sense of autonomy apparently led them to disregard Jesus’ cautionary message from the Gospel of John: “…apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5 NIV).
In certain respects, the Laodicean Christians functioned as a reverse image of the Christian community in Smyrna from Revelation chapter two. For example, Jesus told the Christians in Smyrna, “I know about your suffering and your poverty but you are rich!” (Revelation 2:9 NLT). However, the Laodicean Christians deluded themselves into believing the opposite; they thought they were rich when they were really “… wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.”
Image Attribution: Photo by Judy Baxter – Pipe Organ Demonstration for VSU’s Learning In Retirement