March 5, 2025
Pastor John Hering
Revelation 3:14–22
Revelation 3:14–22
14 To the messenger of the church in Laodicea write:
The Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation, says this:
15 I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. If only you were cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm and not hot or cold, I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, “I am rich. I have become very wealthy and need nothing.” But you do not know that you are miserable, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. 18 I advise you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments, so that you may be clothed and the shame of your nakedness may not become public, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.
19 I rebuke and discipline those whom I love. So take this seriously and repent.
20 Look, I stand at the door and I am knocking. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will go in with him and dine with him, and he with me. 21 To the one who is victorious I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne.
22 Whoever has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
“What are you giving up for Lent?” There are still people out there who give up something for Lent. Maybe you feel a little guilty when you hear this phrase because you don’t. Let’s be clear, the Bible doesn’t say you have to give up something for Lent. However, the historical church did develop the church year and included this season of Lent that begins on Ash Wednesday. Lent gives us the opportunity for us to step back, hear the Passion History of Jesus, asses our spiritual condition and refocus. That was the point of John’s inspired letter that he sent to the church in Laodicea before us. His encouragement is a good place to begin our Lenten journey on this Ash Wednesday to
Make A Commitment To Spiritual Fitness
Pay the Right Price
Getting into good physical shape is a noble goal. But what is the cost? Monthly fees at a fitness center? Buying expensive equipment? Giving up carbs and only eating bacon? This might be a small cost to pay if the doctor says, “If you don’t get into shape you’re going to die.” Some might say, “That’s okay. I’d rather go to heaven a few pounds overweight than be tortured by exercise and depriving myself from Doritos and Donuts and enter heaven skinny.” But, what if exercise was the way one could avoid years and years of agonizing pain on the way to death? You might think that you can’t afford the exercise and diet, but given the alternative you might begin to think, “I can’t afford not to do it!”
What is it going to cost to get into good physical shape? The Christians in Laodicea weren’t worried. This was a great place to live. A major Roman freeway ran next to their city in modern day Turkey with merchants and business. With their lifestyle the thought of spiritual fitness was met with, “Ach! Who needs it? Why bother? We’re good—nice home, decent chariot, enough money in the emergency fund. We’re comfortable.” But, what did Jesus have to say to them?
“The Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation, says this: 15 I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. If only you were cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm and not hot or cold, I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, “I am rich. I have become very wealthy and need nothing.”
Jesus’ point? Money and creature comforts can get in the way of spiritual fitness. I know, it’s hard to convince people who don’t feel burdened by sin that they are carrying a huge burden of sin. It’s hard to convince people who aren’t hungry that they are starving spiritually.
This speaks to us. How comfortable have we become in our spiritual lifestyle? We are temped to think we don’t need any relief of sin, we don’t need any more spiritual nourishment, we don’t need to grow closer to God, and we can just waltz through another Lenten season. Oh, maybe Pay a Little Price and give up a little chocolate, or give a little extra money, or hold off on the second drink and we’ll be just fine. We did our spiritual duty. Do you realize this makes Jesus want to throw up?!?!
If you knew that your eternal life in heaven depended on it, what price would you pay to get spiritually fit? What would “good Lutherans” give up for Lent? Let’s join the Laodiceans in shock and repent. Then let’s listen to God’s solution:
“But you do not know that you are miserable, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. 18 I advise you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich.”
Do you see his point? How can we buy gold when we are wretched, pitiful and poor? The prophet Isaiah gives us the solution:
“Hey, all of you who are thirsty, come to the water, even if you have no money! Come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost…… Satisfy your appetite with rich food”
Isaiah 55:1-2
You know what Isaiah is talking about! It is all about Jesus! Without Jesus we will never be in spiritually satisfied. But, with Jesus we have unlimited credit with God. No downpayment, no annual fees, zero % interest, and no need to pay the balance. With Jesus We Make A Commitment To Spiritual Fitness Who Paid the Right Price, so we can also
Wear the Right Clothes
Some people may commit to the gym but they’re not sure what clothes to wear. They don’t want to wear spandex that shows all the bulges. That’s too embarrassing. They might decide on some old shirts and shorts and hope they don’t stand out.
What’s the proper attire for a spiritual fitness program? The Laodiceans thought they had that covered. They were surrounded by sheep farmers and the entire community had a reputation for expensive woolen products. They could be all dressed up but they had no idea what they looked like in God’s eyes. Jesus had something to say about their clothes.
“But you do not know that you are miserable, pitiful, poor, and naked?”
Talk about embarrassment! Imagine standing before God with nothing to cover your exposed soul! Do you really want to go that way? Do you really think you can get dressed without the right spiritual clothes? God’s eyes see it all. He sees the birthmarks of inherited sin, the flabby self-indulgence, and the naked shameful thoughts. How can we stand before God?
Listen to the words of Isaiah once again.
“I will rejoice greatly in the Lord. My soul will celebrate because of my God, for he has clothed me in garments of salvation. With a robe of righteousness he covered me”
Isaiah 61:10
You can give up something for Lent to try and convince yourself that you are clothing yourself spiritually. But, to get the white robes of holiness we need Jesus. Jesus washes away our sins. Jesus covers us with his righteous robes. These clothes are a gift of his grace that he clothed you at your baptism. In Jesus Christ you are Wearing the Right Clothes so You Can Make A Commitment To Spiritual Fitness and
Take the Right Medicine
We know what a huge role dietary supplements and fistfuls of vitamins do for people. Need I mention the medications people take for aches, pains and sore muscles? I’m not saying that these chemicals can’t benefit us, but they certainly can’t help us to become spiritually fit. The Laodiceans thought they had that covered, too. They lived in an economic center with great clothes, but they were also famous for being the medical center devoted to the Greek god of healing and were known for their special ointment for eye infections! They thought, “We’re good. If we get a little infection we’ll just open up our medicine cabinet and take something for it.”
But, Jesus had something to say about their medications as well.
“But you do not know that you ….blind?”
They thought they had a clear insight to life, and even healing their wounds. Spiritually they thought he had what it would take to heal the infections of sins against God’s holy commands. “Do this” and “Don’t do that.” But, that was not the solution to get rid of the foggy guilt, the smog of smut, and the darkness that blinded them to their relationship with God. They needed to receive the Right Medicine.
And where do you think I’m going to take you to get that right medicine? You’re right, Isaiah 53:
“4 Surely he was taking up our weaknesses, and he was carrying our sufferings. We thought it was because of God that he was stricken, smitten, and afflicted, 5 but it was because of our rebellion that he was pierced. He was crushed for the guilt our sins deserved. The punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.”
Medicine and vitamins serve a good purpose, but they do not bring healing to a sick-sick soul. We need the salve of Jesus’ forgiveness to give us spiritual insight. We need Jesus Who Is The Right Medicine To Cure Our Disease of Sin.
So, we have crossed over the threshold on Ash Wednesday into Lent. Rather than putting ashes on our foreheads, we put ashes of repentance on our hearts. How about we make this a real Lenten season and give up something. How about we give up our pride, self-reliance, and haughtiness. How about we realize no matter how sorry we are and how horrible we might feel about our sins, our forgiveness has nothing to do with what we give up. It has everything to do with what Jesus gave up—his very life. How about this Ash Wednesday we focus on Jesus. Repent that it was your sins that put Jesus on the cross. Then rejoice that Jesus went to the cross to pay the penalty of all your sins. Then you are Committed To Spiritual Fitness with Jesus who Paid the Right Price, Gave you the Right Clothes, and healed you with the Right Medicine. Then you will be blessed on this Ash Wednesday and throughout the season of Lent. Amen.
