The Seven Churches - Laodecia

Rev 3:14 14 “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation.”

The Lord introduces Himself as the beginning of God’s creation and not as the first creation but the start of creation. It means that He was present and was the primary reason why the creation initiated. The word amen means assurance and acknowledgment. The Lord calls Himself Amen which means He is the assurance of everything the Lord says. He is the faithful and the true witness means that He would communicate what is true to us and to the Father God. When He saves us, He does not cover our sins but cleans and removes them before presenting us to the Father. Amen also means that He is the final judge.

Laodicea was flourishing well in business. But had trouble in water. Colossae nearby had cool water from the mountains and Hierapolis nearby had hot water springs but the water in Laodicea was brought from Colossae through mud pipes built in their times. But due to the heat, when the water arrives, it becomes lukewarm and with the taste of the minerals it would taste awful. That’s why the Lord uses a very local example to teach the church.

The members of the church were rich because of the city’s business and had enough. But Lord confirms clearly and finally that it is wretched, pitiable, poor, blind and naked. The Lord’s decision is final and He expects us to buy gold from Him and not anywhere else to become rich. He also wants the church to buy white garments from Him. He was telling businessmen that your gold is not gold and garments are wretched. This is because how the world can blind us. We may be experts in anything but the Lord wants us to understand that everything that we are is nothing but if we buy from Him, we can actually become rich.

We cannot buy when we are poor and naked. But the Lord considers that as a purchase if we come to him and receive. (Isaiah 55:1) Being poor, naked and blind are serious problems the church should attend to. And we should depend on the Lord for these problems sincerely. We should keep asking the Lord for solutions to these problems. Poverty shows how we will become pitiable we are and gold shows the knowledge and understanding they lack (Col 2:3). The white garment is holiness the Lord provides. The Lord gives us ointment but it is us who have to apply in our eyes. Otherwise the blindness which is our own understanding will continue to reign in our hearts.

The Lord assures that it is His method that he reproves and disciplines who He loves. Having worldly richness or self proclaiming richness does not mean the person is loved by God. So, we have to repent from our love of the world to Him. I stand at the door and knock is a very important verse. But we have to open the door with understanding that he loves and disciplines. Jesus would eat with us and we will eat with Him means that He will understand us and we will know Him. But we have to open our ears to hear his voice and open. We should not open because the door is knocked. But have to hear that it is Jesus who is calling and then open to Him.

If we conquer, He will honor us by placing us in His throne.