“These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.” The piercing words of Jesus always hold this powerful advantage: He knows everything. “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.” The disciples must have cringed when their Rabbi directed Isaiah’s words to the religious leaders of their day. They asked, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?” But what is more important… feelings or the truth?
The blessing of God is always the truth. He does not exaggerate or spin or apologize. While we spend lifetimes building reputations, he knows continually how things really are. The Proverb says a good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, but what if my good name is a facade? When God shakes the earth… or shakes our lives… facades crumble. If we stand humbly before him, resisting the temptation to build back an image, God gives the greatest gift: freedom. “You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.”
“Dana, you have the reputation of not caring too much about the praise of man… but I know you. You care far too much about what others think.” The Lord said this to me last week. So what do I do? Is he being mean or uncaring? Of course not. If the Pharisees had received the truth about themselves they could have received sight. Instead, they remained ‘blind guides’ leading others astray. If I am shown the truth and receive it, he will set me free from the fear of man. If I do not argue with him or run from his Word or despise his discipline, he will allow my identity to be totally shaped by what God says rather than the opinions of others.
The letter to the church in Sardis was a tender message of love calling a group of believers into Light. “Wake up!” is the call to life and purpose. “Remember what you have received and heard; obey it and repent. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline.” I must stand humbly before my Maker and Savior. “Show me, Lord. Wake me up. What have I forgotten? What have I failed to obey? Where must I turn around?” A perfect Father listens patiently with open arms. His ways are beyond our understanding and his call is always to himself.
“Remember who you are. You are my child and you are in my Son. Jesus is your righteousness, your wisdom, your holiness, and your redemption. As my Son listened to me and obeyed everything I told him to do as he walked the earth, so you can do the same. I have given you my Holy Spirit as a Helper and Comforter and Guide. Walk in the Spirit and turn from those things that are of the flesh. I have given you everything you need to be an overcomer. The Wedding Feast is being prepared… be dressed and ready!”
“God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things – and the things that are not – to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God – that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: ‘Let he who boasts boast in the Lord.’” I Corinthians 1:27-31