0983. The Overcomers at Sardis
The Overcomers at Sardis
"He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the Book of Life, bat I will confess his name before My Father, and be-His angels" (Rev_3:5)
In Sardis, we have what seems to be a paradoxical condition. A church reputed to be alive and yet reported dead. Of course, we could not expect such a church to bring forth works perfect before God.
The Lord Jesus watches over His churches with tenderest love. He builded them that they might show forth the glories of His name. The Church at Sardis must therefore present a keen disappointment to the Lord. However in Sardis, there were some who overcame. In order to appreciate these overcomers we will present three considerations:
1. The vision of Christ as He appears to Sardis.
"These things saith He that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars." 'Midst all the imperfections of Sardis the Lord walks as the perfect Son of God. He appears clothed with the seven Spirits of God–the Spirit of wisdom; the Spirit of understanding; the Spirit of counsel; the Spirit of might; the Spirit of knowledge; the Spirit of the fear of the Lord; the Spirit of judgment.
The Lord walks also in Sardis as the One Who holds the seven stars. Even Sardis is in His hand. He claims the right to speak His heart to her and to bring her back from her wanderings.
2. The vision of what overcoming means to the saints in Sardis.
The overcomer in Sardis is the one who has kept the true life in Christ, the life of spiritual fervor 'mid the formalities that mark the death of the church. He not only contends for the faith, but he keeps himself in the love of God, and he prays in the Spirit. A study of the Book of Jude will show that this is the great essential in contending for the faith in the days of the final apostasy.
3. The vision of the overcomer's reward. Three things are said:
(1) "The same shall be clothed in white garments." The Sardis overcomers did not defile their own garments therefore they are assured that they shall walk with Christ in white: for they are worthy.
(2) "I will by no means blot out his name out of the Book of Life." In these words, there is no suggestion that one truly saved may be lost; there is the assurance that these who overcome will find their names enrolled in the Book of Life among the heroes of faith.
(3) "I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels." How wonderful is this! We can imagine a great gathering in Heaven where Christ calls forth the Sardis overcomers and confesses them 'mid the glad approval and acclaim of both the Father and untold myriads of angelic hosts. This acclaim will far surpass the glory that marks the achievements of some soldier when congress votes him a word of praise, or when some medal of recognition is pinned upon his coat.
Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR