This lesson is very important for understanding. Please delve into it, and if possible, read it several times until you understand its significance.
In the message to Laodicea, our Lord addresses His church, describing the true state of His children in this period. After Laodicea, there is no one else. Jesus calls my state by its name. He asserts that I am lukewarm and that I have no idea what I look like in His eyes. Revelation 3:17: "Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked." So it is. But merely recognizing this truth does not solve the problem of my lukewarm state. What is this? I am rich, yet Jesus says I am poor. And He is not mistaken.
The Spirit of God draws me to what happened at Calvary, and in the light of these events, I see myself as a great sinner in need of a Savior. I have an immense debt. I repent and receive forgiveness. My debt is paid, I am free. The Lord, in the richness of His mercy and love for me, paid my guilt and brought me out of sin's slavery. I truly became free.
Let's try to illustrate this. For example, throughout my life, I took out loans to pay for this world's services. And to pay off interest and partially return old debts, I took new loans at higher interest rates. If initially we were talking about a small million, then with each year the sum doubled and eventually exceeded a billion. If, having a good job, I could somehow return a million during my lifetime, then a debt of a billion is out of the question. Then I learn that there is a very wealthy person ready to pay off my credit. I meet him, and he, out of his love, pays all my debts, setting the condition that I also forgive all my debtors. I agree. From the bank, I receive a notification that my debt is paid, that I owe nothing, and my account balance is 0. What joy!!! I am free!!! I am forgiven!!! My debt is settled! Now I can live freely. In my joy, I invite guests, go to the store to buy festive food, and at the checkout, I learn that I have no funds to pay for the purchase. My zero balance is not enough to pay. I call the bank and ask for a loan of a thousand. They happily agree. I can work off a thousand. The bill is paid. The celebration happened. The guests left, and I went to tell everyone about my new friend who paid such a huge loan for me.
Life goes on, and new purchases and services need to be paid for. I work like an ox at two jobs, and it's not enough to get rich. I'm used to living in debt and spending money as I see fit, taking everything from life. I decide to turn to my friend for help again, and he assures me that he will cover all my debts and that he has enough resources to help me. This calms me, and I continue to live, no longer thinking about expenses. My lamp always burned, though I saw that the oil in it was only enough for a short time. I always had to borrow to repair the lamp. However, this did not bother me, because having such a rich friend, I had nothing to worry about. I became wiser than others. My life was filled with many useful knowledge, I gained various experiences, and having such an abundance of blessings, I looked very rich compared to other people. Any new purchase did not embarrass me. I knew the one who would pay all my debts, and therefore boldly went forward, telling everyone about my rich friend who is very generous to all poor people. But looking at my property, I no longer considered myself poor. A luxurious house, a new car, a shield of faith, boots of readiness. All these things delighted my heart, and from early morning until evening, I praised and thanked my friend for everything.
Sometimes I thought about how I would repair my lamp if my friend stopped paying for me and the bank refused to give credit. I would not be able to buy or sell then, my lamp would go out, and my entire house would plunge into darkness. I thought more seriously. I became scared. I remembered other people who left life believing in my friend, never becoming rich, but also having no debts. All their accounts were paid, and debts settled. But I am worried about the impending crisis. I understand that things will never be the same as before, and the future holds uncertainty. Especially since my friend sent a warning to have oil for the lamp and a reserve of oil for the crisis time. And this cannot be obtained on credit. My friend offered to buy some valuables from him to become rich and have personal funds, no longer living in debt. But unfortunately, I simply have no time to understand and figure out what he wants to sell and how I could pay. And my friend ambiguously lets me know that there are serious flaws in my thinking and that I need to change something in my life. And he has taken to coming to my house and knocking on the door, not understanding that I am busy and cannot always let him in. However, sometimes I open the door, we have dinner, and he tells me how to become truly rich. How he has tired me with his teachings and advice! Though some of them are not entirely bad. But I cannot kick him out. What if he gets offended, and I have such a development perspective, so much more to do, and someone must pay for it. One thing is depressing: although I am rich, the largest number in my bank account is zero.
I go to my friends. They are sweetly sleeping in their wealth. But many of their lamps do not go out, and it seems they have reserves of oil for the crisis. I think it would not hurt me to take a nap too. And again, a knock at the bedroom door. And again, advice to buy something to become richer, to dress and gain sight. No one has ever insulted me like this! But maybe I should really try? I seek advisors. Some say nothing terrible is happening, others urge me to heed my friend's advice. But the price for these goods is very high. Why not just give them as a gift? But somewhere in my heart, I understand that this message is very important to me. My friend says that I am very lukewarm and that I need to get out of such a state.
My friends tell me about gold that enriched them and how wonderful it is to be truly rich. I thought that this is indeed simpler. No need to live in debt. Always having something to pay for any service. And this wealth comes from the same friend who pays my debts. But the prospect of true treasure and clean clothing involves many trials. The world and the environment in which I live simply will not understand me. They already laugh at me, and in this case, they will completely hate me. But my friend assures me that he will be nearby and support me, that I will have oil. I need to think carefully. But I will definitely decide something.
The world attracts with its goods and services, but it has become foreign to me. And now I am not of this world. The crisis is approaching, it is inevitable. There is hope that I will die before this sorrowful time and will not have to worry too much. But what if I don't die? Oh, who would show me the future. Then I would know what to do. So I can only believe, relying on my friend's words and promises.
Reflection Questions for this Chapter
1. Please read this lesson again in light of Revelation 3:14-22.
2. What did you understand from this chapter?
3. What state are you in?
4. Do you consider yourself part of Laodicea? How do you understand this symbol?
5. Is Jesus' address directed to me, to my address?
6. What is true wealth?
7. What should I do about it?