Comfortable?

“History repeats itself”, as the saying goes, is a very true statement. Today, our country's leaders and decision makers look to the past to reveal something that may benefit them in the future. They rummage through historical texts, and delve into the minds of writers and recorders of the past, in some hope that they may save the future. As Christians, we should be no different. We should look to the past to see the state of our present and where correction was not possible then, make it possible now.
Everything we Christians need to know about our past, present, and future is in the single most complete history text every created. From the beginnings of the earth to its ends that will lead to eternity, humanity’s entire history was spoken into the ears of men a-tune to the voice of the Holy Spirit. It is from these texts that we need to lay a foundation for where were are in our lives now, and where we will be in our lives yet to live. As members of the body of Christ, we must look not only for our own well being, but the well being of others as well, especially those on this spiritual journey with us; so that those who are blessed now will continue to receive blessing in the future.

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. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you. Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. Revelation 3:1-6

This warning to the dead church of Sardis, is a warning that is needing to be repeated to the dead churches of the world today. Living in North America, I have noticed the comfort level of Christians rise too high, such that we have become Christians too lazy to reap the harvest, and are starving ourselves to the point of death. We have the freedom to worship, congregate, and pray publicly, but we hold our tongues for fear of what people may say. We have church buildings that can hold 800 people, but we don’t invite our friends because the gospel may be offensive. Our home churches are blocks away from our house, and we go when we feel like it and remember to wake up. We’ve made Sunday morning a time to catch up with friends, while God stands to the side waiting for us to say hi. Church has become a mass marketing scheme to introduce new technology, make announcements, and hand out pieces of paper, when God only asks for us. We can feel the Spirit of God moving within us, but we’re to busy with our own lives to notice. We’ve got the light show, sound system, and MC, but we’ve forgotten the message.
Salvation comes from hearing the truth. Salvation comes from knowing the truth. The only truth that can offer salvation is the Word of God. If we do not know the truth, we cannot make disciples as we are commissioned to do. To know the truth we must hear it, read it, know it, build our lives upon it. The truth does not need an accomplice, it will stand alone and it will stand strong. Do not meddle in its message by using other sources, it is pure, complete and Holy, it does not need publications from this world, all it needs is for you and me to take it into the world.
Look around at our comfortable style of Christianity, and be weary of the same warning given to the church of Sardis. We have everything we need and even some of the things we want, but yet we sit around and wait for the coming title of “Dead Church”. I fear that if we continue to walk leisurely, as we are doing now, we will see the wide road next to us and take a detour. Before then, listen the Spirit of God and Wake up! Worship the Lord God with fullness and joy. Listen to what the Spirit has to say so that you may be blessed. And read the truth of the Word that you may be able to take it with you.
Try for just a moment, as hard as it may be, to step outside your comfort zone.