The Complacent Church. "See, I stand knocking at the door". (Revelation 3:20).

In New Testament times, Laodicea was a prosperous and very important trade centre. It was famous for the export of fine black wool. The population was affluent and independent, but unfortunately, these characteristics became evident within the local church. The Lord said to the members, "while you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and there is nothing that I need ... you have no eyes to see that you are wretched, pitiable, blind and naked" (verse 17). What an indictment! But the congregation survived and increased. Increasing wealth and overflowing congregations were not a guarantee of spiritual growth. That the Saviour was standing outside the door suggests he had been there for some time. Christ, was and still is, very patient. Christ was close to the place of entrance. It seemed incomprehensible he should be concerned with a place where, temporarily at least, entry was denied. God always has desired fellowship with his people. The Laodicean church was probably the wealthiest of all New Testament assemblies. The congregation would include bankers, judges, businessmen; the elders would be impeccably dressed as they performed their duties; the choir would be a joy to behold. Maybe one or more millionaires were valued members of the church family. If that place existed today, it would be a tourist attraction. I read of an artist who was commissioned to paint a picture of a dead church, and to the surprise of the sponsor, he produced something that looked like the church in Laodicea. It was immaculate and crowded, and in the entrance was an offering of a box of missions. Completely covering the coin silt in the lid was a cobweb; the church had everything but was bankrupt. It was elegant but shabby. The people had excellent eyesight but no vision, as the door of such a church stood the Saviour. We must either throw the door of our lives wide open to him or firmly slam it shut in his face.

This Week's Thought: Life was a lot simpler when we honoured father and mother rather than all the major credit cards.