What is in a name? In the book of Revelations, Chapter 3, there was a church that had a name that they lived, but were dead. They were not accused of any agrant violation of the law or abominable sin. They actually had a good reputation in the eyes of men, but they had no works perfected in the eyes of God. In today’s world, you could say they were fashionable, successful by the world’s standards, and even had the appearance that they were spiritual. It is, however, the truth that judges each and every one of us; and the truth is they were without power and even Christ-less. To be Christ-less is to be powerless. The remedy was found in verse 2: “Wake up, strengthen, and reaffirm what remains [of your faithful commitment to Me], which is about to die; for I have not found [any of] your deeds completed in the sight of My God or meeting His requirements. So remember and take to heart the lessons you have received and heard. Keep and obey them, and repent [change your sinful way of thinking, and demonstrate your repentance with new behavior that proves a conscious decision to turn away from sin]. So then, if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you.”
A song is playing over again in my head today, “Lord give a vision burning within, of sinners dying lost in their sin. We’ve a commission, Jesus to preach. I’ll do my part, Lord, others to reach.”
Have you ever read missionary James Chalmer’s passion? He spent 21 years among cannibals. “Give me back all the experiences. Give me back its shipwrecks, give me it standings in the face of death; give it me, surrounded with savages with spears and clubs! Give it back again with clubs knocking me to the ground. Give it back, and I will still be your missionary.” Our commission is the same, “As the Father has sent Me, even so send I you.”
Your loving pastors,
Cleddie & GayNell Keith