Sardis was a highly regarded and wealthy city. It was capital of the ancient kingdom of Lydia. Many historians believe the first coins minted were minted from the gold of Sardis. The city was located on the western end of a trade route leading to the heart of Persia. This was also known as the Royal Road of Darius the Great. The city prospered because of its safe location on a high plain and its lofty citadel the inhabitants could retreat to in time of attack.
Verses 1-2 The church needed correction and Jesus got right to the point in verse one. There was no commendation only rebuke. On the surface they appeared alive and vital, but on closer examination their works were hollow and dead. Perhaps their relative wealth and comfort led them to sink into complacency. The church was once alive, but life had left it and they did not seem to be aware of their state. They were living off their former glory and holding to traditions of days gone by. If asked about what God was doing in the church and in their lives, I can imagine all the stories would have been from many years in the past.
In verse two Jesus gives them call to awaken. He says, “Be alert and strengthen what remains.” There was some hope for a faithful remnant that remained in Sardis. They needed to act immediately, or they were also in danger of dying. Whatever works they had done were found to be incomplete. We know from Abraham, Moses, and others that complete obedience is God’s standard, as partial obedience still amounts to disobedience.
Verse 3 They are called to reflect on the past and “remember” the words they have received. Remembrance should not be a reason to rest but it should continue to spur us onward to good works for the Kingdom. They were urged to “keep” the gospel they had received and heard. The failed to hold fast to the truths they had been taught. Like the other churches, Sardis was given the opportunity to repent. God would be patient in judgement allowing them time to get back on the right path. The consequence of their failure to act was that the Lord would visit them. This visit would not be a happy visit as He would come when they were least expecting to see Him. He would see them as they really were and not just when they could put their best foot forward.
Verses 4-6 Sardis did have certain members who were faithful. They kept to the work and kept themselves undefiled from the sins of the flesh. Sardis was known for its production of wool, and they were among the first to dye wool for garments so this imagery would have been very meaningful to them. The pagans would not go to worship a false idol with garments stained with dirt and grime. In a spiritual sense some believers in the church had not allowed their hearts to be contaminated by unholy living. They did not compromise in their commitment to Christ in the midst of a pagan culture. They walked in the Spirit and not the flesh. I can imagine how those dressed in radiant white clothing would stand out among the population. This is reminiscent of the hymn we would sing: “Whiter than snow; yes, whiter than snow; Now wash me and I shall be whiter than snow.” The blood of Christ is the only thing that can purify us to that degree.
The next promise to the overcomers was that their names would not be erased from the book of life. In many instances the citizenship records for the city were kept by the city elders. The names of citizens were recorded in books or registers. If one were to commit a crime or dishonor the local god their citizenship cold be revoked, and their name stricken from the register. Here Jesus guarantees that those who are faithful to Him will never lose their heavenly citizenship. Revelation 13:8, 20:11-15 tells us believers names are recorded in the Lamb’s book of life. Jesus said in John 10 that no one can snatch the saint from the Father’s hand.
Last week our lesson related to purity and the loss of personal holiness among the church at Thyatira. The root problem in Sardis was complacency which may have led to compromise down the road. I see their issue closer to that of Ephesus. Recall the Ephesians were once great but had lost their first love. They were known by and living off their past works but had lost their heart for God. They had grown cold and stale and had slipped into a terminal condition without even realizing it. To put this in modern words, they became inward focused rather than being outwardly focused. Any organization that focuses inward for too long will eventually die from lack of growth or will destroy itself through internal conflict. In church we should be too busy carrying out the redemptive task God has given to us to do battle against our own. We already have an enemy on the prowl that is seeking to devour God’s people. We must monitor the condition of our hearts in cooperation with the Holy Spirit to do as Revelation 3:2 instructs us; “Be alert and strengthen what remains.”
