The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Revelation 3:1-6, “To the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars, says this: “I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.
2 “Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God.”
3 ‘So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. Therefore, if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you.
4 ‘But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; and they will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.
5 ‘He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.
6 ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”

The Church at Sardis can well be called The Camouflaged Church. Isn’t this what we do when we’ve been charged with corruption? We hide! The overall history of the Church parallels the history of Sardis.
Having been well-founded, the subtle intrusions of false doctrines and worldliness render the Church virtually helpless and unproductive. The singular element for renewal resides within the Church herself in the Person of the Holy Spirit. He has not departed, but His effectiveness through the Church has greatly diminished.

Observe the LORD’s accusation “I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God… Therefore, if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you” (3:1-3).

“The Sardian people were idolaters: they feigned worship of God, but worshipped Cybele, whose worship was the most debasing of character. “Sins of the foulest and darkest impurity were committed on…festival occasions” (Tait).

Yet, while the LORD admonished them to strengthen what remained, there were a paltry few who had true life and spirituality within them. Otherwise, He would not have admonished them as He did. Not only did the LORD possess knowledge of the Sardian church, neighbors all around also knew the Sardis’ reputation.

Remember how we used to hide things from our parents and pretend that we didn’t know things we truly knew? Somehow, they always knew. So it is with God; only He knows infinitely more about us than our parents –even more than we know about ourselves! So it is with churches. We often pretend to be what we are not, yet the LORD knows who and what we truly are! Remember the old song we use to sing?

I cannot hide from God; however I may try;
Though mountains cover me, I cannot escape His eye;
I’ve wandered far and near, and yet His voice I hear:
I know that I can never hide from God.

As we “come clean” with God, He forgives and blesses us. So, too, is He with His Church. We have a ministry far more vital than we know. May we freely cast off those things that drag us down and exault the LORD Jesus Christ in and through our daily lives. When “push comes to shove,” He’s all that truly matters!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

P. S. For excellent 26-minute videos on the Seven Churches of the Revelation go to:

Dr. Stowell’s videos are excellent! He covers all seven Churches of the Revelation in free videos.

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom