John’s Apocalypse 3:1-6

And to the messenger of the assembly in Sardis write, “He who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars says these things:

            “I know your works—that you have the name of ‘Life’—and you are dead.

            “Become watchful and stabilize what remains destined to death, for I have not found your works as having been fulfilled in the presence of my God. Remember, therefore, how you have received and heard, and hold it, and repent. If, then, you will not awake, I shall come as a thief, and you shall not know the hour that I shall come upon you.

            “But you have a few names in Sardis who did not defile their garments, and they shall walk with me in white, because they are worthy. He who conquers in this manner shall be put in white garments and his name I shall not wipe out of the Book of Life, and I shall acknowledge his name in the presence of my father and in the presence of his messengers.

            “He who has an ear, hear what the spirit is saying to the assemblies!”

From the Pastor Leitzke No Holds Barred Haphazardly Translated Version, or PLNHBHTV

            Creatively naming something as the opposite of what it is seems to run in our human genes. I think of George Orwell’s 1984 & the government’s four ministries: Truth (really lies), Peace (really war), Love (really hate), and Plenty (really starvation & poverty). The names cannot change what the ministries really do, but they can change popular perception of them, and deceive people.

            The author says that the assembly in Sardis bears the name, ‘Life’, and yet is dead. The congregation calls itself living, thriving, growing, and is really dead. That’s the nasty part about confession and repentance: you have to admit the problem is real. In Sardis ’ case, the congregation has to admit its problems or it never will get better. Creatively labeling them with denials is only a furtherance of their Sin.

            The image that keeps coming to mind is of an open casket funeral. (This isn’t to knock funeral homes; it’s just a comment on how we as a society do things.) The deceased is laid out in his best clothing and made up with foundation and lipstick so that he almost looks like he’s about to jump out of the coffin in alarm at all these people looking at him. Yet, he’s a corpse in a box, painted to look alive. We don’t want to admit that we’ve lost a loved one, so we pretend that he’s just sleeping.

            The dead do sleep in the loving embrace of God, awaiting the Resurrection. For us the living, the challenge is coming to terms with stark reality, and admitting things that aren’t so pleasant to admit.

            The benefits of confession and repentance are forgiveness and salvation. It’s like in The Princess Bride, when Billy Crystal says that Cary Elwes is “mostly dead”. There’s some life left in him, and there’s some life left in the people of the dead assembly in Sardis . Confession and repentance open the door for God’s grace, and those who receive that grace walk with Jesus, clothed in their Baptism. They are acknowledged before God and all the company of heaven. Though they are dead, they repent and their names remain written in the Book of Life.

            We are dead to Sin. When we admit that in faith, faith receives forgiveness and Life.

Pastor Timothy A Leitzke