When the Lord addressed the church at Laodicea, He condemned them for practicing a spirituality that was not of the Lord, but was counterfeit. Therefore, He advised these brethren who thought they needed nothing to buy certain things from him so that they might have a real spirituality.
“I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,’ and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see” (Revelation 3:15-18).
A “Lukewarm” Spirituality
The problem with the church in Laodicea was that it was filled with “lukewarm” Christians. What does it mean that they were “lukewarm”? They were just spiritual enough to be comfortable. They were not completely devoted to the Lord as He demands. In repeating the requirement given in the Old Law, Jesus said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37). We are to offer ourselves as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1; cf. Luke 9:23). This is only possible with a wholehearted devotion to the Lord.
Why was the spirituality of the Laodiceans’ so shallow? Notice how Jesus described their mindset: “You say, ‘I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing” (Revelation 3:17). Their wealth had deceived them into thinking they were self-sufficient. They were blind to the fact that they were sorely lacking spiritually. A “lukewarm” spirituality is one that is derived from the things of this world. The only way to fix the problem and to exchange this counterfeit spirituality for the real thing is to buy the three things Jesus tells these brethren they were to buy.
Gold Refined by Fire
Real spirituality focuses on the true riches that are offered to us in Christ. When gold is refined by fire, it is purified, thereby making it more valuable. The gold offered to the Laodiceans represents the true riches in Christ. In Christ is where all spiritual blessings are found (Ephesians 1:3). What are these blessings? Notice a few of them below:
- The adoption as sons – “In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself” (Ephesians 1:5). In Christ we have the opportunity to be “called children of God” (1 John 3:1). We can “cry out, ‘Abba! Father!’” (Romans 8:15) because of this close relationship with Him. All of this is possible “through Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 1:5).
- Redemption, forgiveness, and grace – “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7). All men have sinned and are worthy of death (Romans 3:23; 6:23). Through the sacrifice of Christ, we have the opportunity to be forgiven and restored to a right relationship with God.
- The revelation of God’s will – “He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him” (Ephesians 1:9). Jesus is the spokesman for the new covenant (Hebrews 1:2). He came to “testify to the truth” (John 18:37). His words show us the way to eternal life (John 6:68).
- An inheritance – “Also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will” (Ephesians 1:11). This inheritance is described by Peter as being “imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:4).
Counterfeit spirituality seeks to find these spiritual blessings apart from Christ, or in a different form than they are found in Christ.
- The adoption as sons – Rather than seeking to be children of God through Christ (Ephesians 1:5), many claim to be children of God apart from Christ. The Jews claimed this in the first century. Yet Paul said they were only “Abraham’s descendants” if they belonged “to Christ” (Galatians 3:29). We are only children of God “through Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 1:5).
- Redemption, forgiveness, and grace – Many believe that one can be saved (and reach heaven) outside of Christ. But Jesus did not say He was a way; He said He was the way (John 14:6). Peter said, “There is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Of course, the name to which he was referring was the name of Christ.
- The revelation of God’s will – The “mind of Christ” has been revealed by the Spirit through the word of God (1 Corinthians 2:10-16). This word is what produces faith in us today (Romans 10:17). But many are not content with this. So they foolishly seek after the opinions, philosophies, traditions, and creeds of men; contrary to what we ought to do (cf. Galatians 1:6-9; Colossians 2:8, 23; Matthew 15:6-9).
- An inheritance – Many believe the inheritance offered through Christ refers to the riches of this life [see previous lesson]. Some think it is to be part of a physical kingdom of Christ on the earth. Yet the inheritance is clearly in heaven, not on the earth (1 Peter 1:4). And it certainly does not involve a better life here, as Paul said, “If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied” (1 Corinthians 15:19). Without Christ, we are as the Lord described the Laodiceans: “wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked” (Revelation 3:17).
White Garments
Real spirituality focuses on obtaining spiritual garments of white that are offered by Christ. The “white garments” symbolize purity. We first obtain these garments when we become pure and forgiven of sin in the waters of baptism (Acts 2:38; 22:16). Yet many have a counterfeit spirituality since they have been convinced that they can be forgiven and obtain these “white garments” before and without water baptism.
Real spirituality also seeks to keep the spiritual garments of the soul pure and unstained by sin. We are to “walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light” (1 John 1:7). Christians are to be different from the world – not conformed, but transformed (Romans 12:2). Christians are not to be “just a bunch of sinners” (cf. 1 John 1:6). People should be able to see the difference between our lives and the lives of those in the world (1 Peter 4:3-4). We may sin occasionally, but those with a real spirituality will not be constantly mired in sin (Romans 6:11-14).
Counterfeit spirituality embraces the garments of the old man (Colossians 3:5-9) – those that have been “polluted by the flesh” (Jude 23). Those who accept this form of spirituality believe that the righteous – those who clothe themselves with “white garments” by following the Lord – are merely self-righteous hypocrites. After all, how could someone truly live righteously when we are all human and cannot help but sin? The problem is that the righteous are not being accused for their own sin, but are being unjustly accused for the sins of their accusers. The fact is, the Bible tells us that there is a way that we can “never stumble” (2 Peter 1:10) as God has promised a “way of escape” for every temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13). We are to strive for perfection (Matthew 5:48) as we “consider [ourselves] to be dead to sin, but alive to God” (Romans 6:11). Those who have a false spirituality in claiming to be “just a sinner” need to quit sinning and repent. Samuel told Saul: “Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice” (1 Samuel 15:22).
Eye Salve
Real spirituality focuses on seeing things the way God sees them. We are to judge, not with our own flawed judgment, but “with righteous judgment” (John 7:24). We are to test ourselves according to the faith (2 Corinthians 13:5), not according to our opinion. Real spirituality involves an honest, unbiased, unprejudiced perspective, so that we can look at ourselves clearly in the mirror of God’s word (James 1:23-25).
Counterfeit spirituality focuses on what one is able to see and experience with his eyes. It causes one to “walk by sight and not by faith” (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:7). It causes one to go after the “way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Proverbs 14:12).
Conclusion
A counterfeit spirituality – like what the Laodiceans had – leads one to conform his religion to his physical senses and desires. We must rise above this, or else the Lord will “spit [us] out of [His] mouth” (Revelation 3:16). We must have a real spirituality that values the spiritual blessings in Christ and is careful to remain pure before God. If we do this we can enjoy fellowship with the Lord (Revelation 3:21-22 – we will dine with Him and sit with Him on His throne). Otherwise, in the end, He will have nothing to do with us.
