A letter to the church of the living dead

Hey!  John!  Write a letter for Me? To that lot in Sardis.  Tell them I’ve been keeping an eye on them, I know what they’re up to.  It’s all show.  They look just like a bunch of committed and enthusiastic Christians but they’re actually nothing of the sort.  Dead.  Nearly all of them.  Just a few who are really Mine.  Tell them to repent and turn to Me before I come back unexpectedly and blot them out of the book of life.

So what’s a dead Christian then?  How could you pretend to be one but not be really?

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Someone, perhaps, who is on all the rotas, always willing to do their bit and more besides – but who never actually takes time out to talk to God?

I do all that.  And I talk to God.  I pray every day.

Worshipping and praising and repenting?

Yes, of course.  Not that I do anything to repent of.

Well, let’s start with pride and foolishness then.

Oh.  Well, okay.  I know all about the prayers of the Pharisee and the publican.  But I really don’t …

Try greed.  How good are you at sharing?

I’m okay there.  I share everything I have except my toothbrush.  Car, clothes, money, food … only have to ask.

What about the gospel message of salvation?

Oh, well, can’t keep pushing stuff under people’s noses, pearls before swine you know …

Who exactly are you adjudging as swine?  Let’s move on to idolatry.

How dare you!  I’ll have you know I’m …

That’s loving something else more than God.

Well I don’t!

You love your garden.  How much time do you spend on that compared to God?

You’re closer to God in a garden, you know …

God is always close to us.  Remember Jonah’s mistake?  Is it weeds and planting and pruning on your mind – or worship, praise and repentance?

There you go again about repentance.

How greedily do you stuff yourself when you’re hungry?

I – do – not – do - that!  I eat moderately and with restraint, never grabbing, and maintain a flow of smalltalk between mouthfuls – which is never full, by the way.

Thought so.  But I was talking about the hunger and thirsting after righteousness.

I read my Bible every single day.

Is that because you have a dutiful sense that it’s the right thing to do, or are you hungry for God’s advice and help so you can repent?

I keep telling you I have nothing to repent of!

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Pride, arrogance, foolishness, idolatry, greed … John has written us all a letter from Jesus.  It is in Revelation chapter 3 verses 1-6.  Suppose He did come back unexpectedly and you realise that you weren’t quite as alive as you thought?

By Hilary