A Good Buy

Revelation 3:18 - "I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with salve, that you may see."

Intro: One question that is heard this time of year is “have you finished your Christmas shopping yet.” Some have. Some have not. Some start their shopping the day after Christmas for the next year. Others start their shopping the day before Christmas.

But however the shopping is done, we all look forward to giving gifts and showing the purchases that we made.

The Situation: The Lord is addressing seven distinct churches in this portion of Revelation. With each one He has a word of commendation and a word of exhortation, except for the church in Laodicea. To this group of people he only speaks words of exhortation and correction along with an invitation.

1. Their Worship – The city of Laodicea had several gods that it worshipped including Zeus, Apollo, and Dionysus.

2. Their Wealth - Laodicea was a city of Phyrgia not far from Colosse. Laodicea was a prosperous banking center and did not need help from Rome following the earthquake of AD 60 because of its own vast resources. The city was so wealthy that it really had no need of any help from those around it. This attitude of self-sufficiency also became pervasive in the church (3:17).

3. Their Water - The Lord’s words against the church and his description of them is something that they could easily identify with. For all that the Laodiceans had, they did not have suitable water for either bathing or drinking. They lacked a natural water supply. The hot water piped in from springs to the south and the cold water from the mountains was lukewarm by the time it reached Laodicea. The water was useless as well as filled with sediment.

4. Their Wretchedness - Jesus makes the statement to the church that the way that they feel about their water is the way the He feels about them—they make Him sick. Yet there is something that the church can do to restore them spiritually. They can make a good buy!

Jesus tells the Laodiceans that they need to buy the following:
1. Gold refined in the fire – Real wealth (Cf. Matthew 5:3)
2. White garments versus Laodicea’s black garments.
3. Eye salve – Jesus alone gives true sight.

Jesus is telling the Laodicean Christians that the wealth of the world can do nothing for their spiritual needs. It cannot change their condition, only repentance and a return to Christ will do that.

The Meditation: I am not beyond the error of self-sufficiency. How easy it is to begin to think too highly of self and to develop an independent spirit. Such a spirit leads to lukewarmness in a life because distance develops between the “water” and the ”vessel.”

Churches can become guilty of this same lukewarmness. Things may be going so well that its people begin to show forgetfulness of why things are going well. Having plenty in material things too often leads to poverty in spiritual things. The budget may be met but a deficit grows. The church may look good yet be in disrepair. The lights may be bright yet darkness grows.

If as an individual or as a church body lukewarmness becomes a reality, it is time to make a good buy. Have investments left you broke? Are your garments ruined? Have you lost your spiritual sight?

The Application: How can I be sure that my life has not entered into a lukewarm relationship with the Lord? The first step is to consider where is the Lord in my life.

1. Is Jesus knocking? - Revelation 3:20
2. Is Jesus dwelling? – Ephesians 3:17
3. Is Jesus abiding? – John 14:23

Conclusion: We love to make good buys. Sometimes our buys are not so good, this is the reason for returns. The Lord was giving the opportunity for the Laodiceans to return what they “bought” for a better buy. Jesus does the same for us. Any return that needs to be made is only a prayer away.