Rev 3:17"Because thou sayest, I am rich,and increased with goods, and haveneed of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable,and poor, and blind, and naked 18I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye salve, that thou mayest see."- KJV
Verse 17 is very direct. It is staying that the Laodicean church is thinking it self rich, they have replaced the need for God with material goods, prosperity and success thinking they no longer need the approval of God. They were no longer meditating on The Word, the truth it possesses, or the power of The Spirit. They had become of this world not of God's plan. The Risen Christ is telling them what they really are.
Verse 18 gives the solution from Christ himself.
A. Christ is telling the church to purchase, fro Him, gold tried in fire. The meaning here is one of divine righteousness. See 1 Peter 1:, "7That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire,might be found unto praise and honorand glory at the appearing of JesusChrist:" Here Peter is talking about being tried through persecutions and suffering, (which happens to believers) and it tries our faith, to lean Christ , to let Him have control and count on Him through these times which strengthens our faith in Him. (also see Job 23 :10). One way that we as Christians place ourselves in trial is by fasting, to lean on Christ and to come closer to Him through the denial of self. If a person can walk through the experiences of trials and persecutions with Christ, that person is wealthy beyond any gold or riches.
B. The white raiment is practical righteousness. "The Practical Righteousness of God is that righteousness worked out in a Christian’s life resulting in integrity, virtue, purity of life and rightness or correctness in feeling, thinking and acting." By Lyn Mize of First fruits ministry.
C. Christ is saying that they are not clothed. In the ancient world, it was the worst humiliation ever to be naked. See 2 Sam. 10 :4, where Hanum treated the servants of David. See Isaiah 20:4 of the threat to Egypt of leading her people naked. Ezekiel had this threat to Isreal, and God's threat passed on by Nahum. Shame, guilt and sadiness came with nakedness. Laodicea prided itself in its garments it produced and remained spiritually naked.
d. Finally, recall that Laodicea was home to one of the first medical centers, specializing in eye conditions and salves. Christ is saying use the salves on yourself to open your eyes and see...YOURSELF! All ancient eye salve had a property of stinging with the first application. Laodicea had no desire to apply any anointing salve to see their own nakedness or poverty.
Remember, the Laodicea Church is alive and well today. This warning is for us! Examine your walk with Christ. Make sure you are right with Him and are following the right path.
Blessings on all,
Calabash
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