”Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God.“ - Jesus to the Church in Sardis // Revelation 3:2
A word like this can feel empty.
Especially when it sounds like the closing chapter.
But this is not and will not be the end of the story.
So what’s the GOOD NEWS?
“Wake up”
Here is the Good News: We can have hope in His invitation to “wake up” or “be watchful” because Jesus, by His word, is the One who brings life from the dead and sight to the blind. His call for you to wake up will not return to Him empty.Lift up your eyes.
“Strengthen What Remains”
Here is the Good News: We can have hope in this word because Jesus is the One who not only gives strength, but IS strength in weakness. Whatever little you’ve got left today is all God needs to give you strength for tomorrow. And strength will RISE as we wait. The strength is HIS.
“I have not found your works complete”
Here is the Good News: We can have hope in what seems like a word of despair because God isn’t finished with you. The work is not complete because God’s not done being God to you. He who began the work will complete the work — and you can have hope. He WILL find you complete.
You might hear God say something that sounds like bad news and feel empty because of what you hear…
That’s ok. Keep listening. You will find that Jesus is the One who FILLS the space.
You might hear God say something that sounds like a closing statement or final word…
Just wait. Keep reading. You will see that Jesus is the One who is CREATING something new.
What may sound on the surface like a condemnation is actually Good News because of WHO is speaking.
He is never not good… and you can always hope.