Robert Frost once wrote about two diverging roads, and his choice of the one “less traveled by” made all the difference. Few travel that lonely road. Those who do might find more peace and solace if they had. But I digress.
In the ancient world, there were many roads—some lost to time—but the road to Laodicea was anything but forgotten. It was a well-worn path of affluence, power, and self-sufficiency. It wasn’t the road less traveled, to say the least. It was one of the most important roads in the ancient world, one that led to an important place with important people.
And yet, Christ’s words to this wealthy, self-satisfied church in Revelation 3 are some of the harshest in all of Scripture. He didn’t care about their money, influence or affluence. Christ cared about their church, and that wasn’t going well.
Perhaps they should have taken the road less traveled, the narrow road that leads to submission to Christ.
Here’s the tragedy. The modern church has taken this same road, mistaking material success and comfortable circumstances for spiritual health. What’s wrong with this kind of mindset? Let’s look at that.
Christ’s Authority Over the Church
The answer begins where the Book of Revelation begins: with Jesus Christ. John introduces Jesus in the first few verses and never looks back. Regardless of circumstances, Christ stands as the central Person and theme of Revelation.
Understanding this helps us decode what Jesus says in chapters two and three. That’s where we pick up the story.
Revelation 3:14 clarifies an important point for us. Christ alone has the authority to assess His church. He is “the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God.” This sets the tone for His scathing remarks to the Laodicean church. Jesus has the authority to make such remarks because of who He is:
1. He is the Final Word on Truth.
Christ, as the “Amen,” affirms the absolute truth of His words. When He speaks, there is no higher authority. His verdict is law. There are no higher courts to which anyone can appeal.
Matthew 24:35 reminds us, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.” (NASB 95) This is a direct rebuke to a world—and a church—that treats Scripture as a negotiable document.
What God speaks, He means. Christ is God with that same authority. He has the final word on what truth is.
2. He is the Lord of All.
When Christ calls Himself the “Beginning of the creation of God,” He does not mean He is created. Rather, as John 1:3 confirms, “All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him not even one thing came into being that has come into being.” (NASB 95) The cults rage against this truth because it confirms Christ’s deity.
But the modern church, in its desperation to be relevant, often downplays this reality by diluting Christ’s Lordship. Christ is to be worshiped as Lord because He is God. That gives Him the authority in every situation. Christ is Lord over all.
The Indictment Against the Modern Church
Jesus’ rebuke to Laodicea is chilling: “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot.” (Rev. 3:15, NASB 95) The modern church stands guilty of the same lukewarmness.
But what does spiritual lukewarmness look like? What does it mean to be like the Laodicean Church? Let’s dig a little deeper.
1. The Church Has Compromised
Instead of standing firm on the foundation of Christ and His Word, the church has built its house on the shifting sands of cultural acceptance. Success is measured in attendance numbers, not faithfulness to the truth. We have traded biblical sermons for self-help talks, theology for therapy, and holiness for hype.
It didn’t work for Laodicea in the first century. It won’t work now for any church that tries the same method in the twenty-first century. That building will fall flat at the slightest push. It needs a solid foundation. It needs to build on the Word of God.
2. The Church Has Lost Discernment
When a church rejects the authority of Scripture, it becomes directionless. Like a ship without a pilot, it is tossed by every cultural wave. Laodicea didn’t have anyone at the helm.
Too many modern churches find themselves sailing under those same circumstances. Many churches today can’t recognize false doctrine because they have abandoned biblical discernment. They are tossed about by every wind of doctrine (see Ephesians 4:14, Hebrews 13:9, Jude 12–13)
The result? A blind skipper grounding his ship on shoals of confusion. Gilligan had nothing on some pastors today.
3. The Church Is Spiritually Bankrupt
Laodicea was rich in worldly goods but poor in faith. Christ tells them they are “wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.” (Rev. 3:17, NASB 95) How could that be? They were the richest church in their area? Certainly, God was blessing them?
What Laodicea didn’t realize was that their spiritual condition was bankrupt. They may have lots of worldly things. They didn’t have what was most important. A spiritual mind that leads to God’s glory.
This is the state of many churches today—polished on the outside, but spiritually destitute. They mistake wealth for blessing and comfort for calling. Their spiritual bank account is overdrawn, and they are headed for bankruptcy.
The Only Hope for the Church
What is the answer? Listen to Christ. Consider His words. That’s what Jesus called Laodicea to do.
HisHiIf the modern church is to escape the fate of Laodicea, it must take Christ’s warnings seriously. What does Christ prescribe? What must we listen to?
1. Return to the Truth of God’s Word
True riches come from Christ alone. Jesus calls the church to “buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich.” (Rev. 3:18, NASB 95) These riches can’t be bought or bartered for. They are found in the purity of Scripture, not in human wisdom.
We must reject the man-centered gospel and return to the unshakable truth of God’s Word. Enough with the “watered-down theology” that squelches the truth found in Scripture. People need to hear what God has to say. They don’t need what the world says rehashed in a sermon on Sunday.
2. Rely on God’s Grace, Not Human Effort
Too often people approach God with flippancy and casual carelessness. They act like they don’t appreciate what God has given through Christ. But what God has given is something that makes us worthy of stepping into God’s presence.
Is that something we bring to the door? Nope.
Christ tells Laodicea to obtain “white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed.” (Rev. 3:18, NASB 95) These garments don’t come from the department store or from an outlet. Their source is God. They make us presentable to God.
These garments represent righteousness given through faith in Jesus Christ, not works. The church must abandon its obsession with performance-based religion and embrace the sufficiency of Christ and His righteousness.
3. Refocus on God’s Perspective
John Newton, writer of the most famous hymn ever penned, Amazing Grace, wrote, “I once was blind, but now I see.” He would have heartily agreed with what Jesus says next to the Laodicean Church.
He told the church to “apply eye salve to your eyes so that you may see.” (Rev. 3:18, NASB 95) Laodicea was known for its medical advancements. That makes what Jesus said even more ironic. They knew how to take care of physical blindness. Yet, Christ exposes their true blindness with one short statement.
In our day, we have hospitals, pharmacies and all kinds of other medical advancements. We can cure certain kinds of blindness with a trip to the doctor and a pair of glasses.
Yet, the modern church is oftentimes as blind as the Laodiceans. We need to regain spiritual vision by seeking God’s wisdom rather than human methodology.
4. Repent of Worldliness
“Those whom I love, I rebuke and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent” (Rev. 3:19, NASB 95). The Laodiceans were entirely too enthralled with their spiritual state. Yet, according to Christ, it fell sadly short of what it should have been. Their church wasn’t a church. It was an affirmation club.
What they needed was repentance and restoration. Only then would they find what they were truly looking for.
Christ’s call is clear. Repentance is not optional. We need to listen and do. The church must turn from self-sufficiency and seek holiness.
5. Respond to Christ’s Lordship
What are Christ’s parting words to the flailing, lukewarm church? “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.” (Rev. 3:20, NASB 95)
This verse is often misused as an evangelistic text. It certainly can be used this way, but that wasn’t Christ’s point. This verse is actually addressed to the church. Christ is outside, knocking. The church must let Him in, submitting fully to His Lordship.
That’s what Christ tells us. That’s what we must do. Will we answer the call?
So What?
The evangelical church is at a crossroads. We can continue down the wide road of Laodicea—compromising, self-reliant, and blind. Or we can take the narrow road of faithfulness, submission, and biblical truth.
We’re drifting in an effortless, lukewarm faith. We need to get back to that white-hot devotion that Christ requires. We need to put our hand to plow and not look back. We need to squeeze through the narrow gate and step into that narrow road.
It’s our choice. What will you do?
Do you know Jesus? If not, find Him here.
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