As long as the church is not completed, it can fall behind. This is exactly what the church in Laodicea shows us. In order, it comes right after the Philadelphia community. Laodicea thus describes the apostasy of Philadelphia. What does this tell us? This must warn us: even if the church once pleased God, it does not mean that it still pleases God today. The church is at all times in danger of drifting away from the Lord and becoming lukewarm. Especially after a long time, the church has accumulated much knowledge and Bible teaching. In the end, the Lord Jesus has to say to her, “Because you say, ‘I am rich and have become wealthy and have need of nothing,’ and do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and bare …” (Revelation 3:17).
The church in Laodicea thinks it has become rich: She knows the Bible, has heard many sermons, and has become “comfortable”. The community does not even realize that it has long since cooled down. Jesus warns, “But so, because you are lukewarm and neither hot nor cold, I will spew you out of my mouth” (Revelation 3:16). What a strong word! Jesus will spit out the church in Laodicea. He has become sick, so that he even has to vomit. The community no longer tastes good to him. He has to throw up. What a tragedy!
But Jesus loves his church, so he rebukes them. What the church needs is the true gold – the nature of God. Do we Christians reach out for this gold? How much gold did you buy today? How much reality of God’s Word are we living out? If the church only has the knowledge, it will be spat out by Jesus.
In Laodicea, the Lord Jesus stands at the door of the church. He is no longer in it. But Jesus calls the overcomers in Laodicea by knocking on each one. But only the overcomers will open the door for him. Let us be among those who open the door of our hearts to Him. As a reward, dominion in the 1000-year empire awaits the overcomers.