They were to wake up, call to mind the lessons they had learned, obey them and repent.
What could a person do that would cause the Lord to say they were "dead and dying"?
Could it be that the Lord considers NOT being watchful; NOT strengthening the things which remain in them; NOT having perfect works; NOT remembering what they had already received and heard and not holding fast to that;
NOT repenting, so therefore NOT keeping their spiritual garments clean;
all these will cause the Lord to consider us dead and dying?
Could the call to "wake up" also show us that we are "sleeping", perhaps in spiritual apathy?
As we measure ourselves against this church:
* We must look inside ourselves and see if what we TRULY believe is by faith or works. (Romans 9:32)
* Have we been "going through the motions" of what we THINK Jesus would have us to be like or have we sought to be what He recreated us to be:
A Light and Beacon to the world and all who watch us, our spouses, children, grandchildren and neighbors. (Mat. 5:14-16; 24:14; Jn.1:6-8,15,16; 3:26; Acts 4:33; 10:43)
* Have we followed the mandate by God to consistently observe to DO the "3 R's"? :
Repent..........1 Jn.1:9
Recover.........2 Tim.2:26
Rejoice..........Lu.6:23; 10:20; 19:37,38; Jn.4:36; 16:22; Acts 2:26,28; Ro.5:2
* Have we become so worldly minded that we are no spiritual good??? (Jn.3:31)
* Have we not only forgotten from which heights we had fallen but how we got to the place we are today? (Rev.2:5; Gal.6:7)
Are yesterdays lessons from God forgotten in light of today's problems? (Num.13:30-33; 14:11)
Have we lost the fire that we once had that we so joyously and lovingly shared with other hurting and seeking people? (Acts 6:7-15; 7:55-60)
* Have we lost the answers to give to the world at large when they ask us the reason for our HOPE? Do we even have any hope? (Ro.5:1-11; 8:24,25; 15:4; 1Cor.9:10; 13:13; Eph.2:12)
The child of God who refuses to look inside themselves and answer those questions, trusting that God is their Source and Supply, is in danger, as Jesus warned here, of having their Candle, their Light extinguished! Jesus even went so far as to state that those who are conquerors and are clad in white garments would NOT have their names blotted out from His Book of Life! Can we then infer that those who refuse to obey Him, WILL have their names blotted out from the book of Life, in which he or she, "whose name is not written therein will never enter into the Kingdom of God?" (Dan.12:1; Phil.4:3; Rev.13:8; 17:8; 20:12,15; 21:27)
Perhaps that is WHY we are told to "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling"! (Phil.2:12)
We are to keep alert with an understanding heart that we are sojourners, or aliens from this world, whose home is in Heaven with Jesus. This world has a true and real enemy who seeks to steal and kill and destroy as much of God's Creation as he possibly can!
We are to put on, as an act of our will, the full armor of God and then we are told to STAND!! (Mat.26:41; Mk.13:33; Lk.21:36)
My prayer is that all who read this may take a personal inventory of their salvation, their spiritual life and make sure that Jesus is STILL on the Throne of their heart~~
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