I heard a story about a store being broken into in one of the American cities. When the police arrived, they decided to determine what was missing, what had been stolen. But to everyone's surprise, it was found that all items were in place. When the trading day came, customers approached the sellers with amazement, wondering why expensive goods were being sold at low prices and, conversely, what was cheap had become very expensive. During the investigation, it was discovered that the robbers had replaced all price tags, making the cheapest items many times more expensive, and the most valuable ones reduced to minimal cost.
This illustration vividly shows how everything in our world is turned upside down. Sin has been glorified and placed on a pedestal of honor, while true values have been reduced to the level of indecency, and people mock those who seek to obtain them.
What is valuable in this world? What currency is in circulation?
1. Look at what I have.
2. Look at what I can do.
3. Look at what I know.
4. Look at who I am.
5. Look where I've been.
6. Look how strong I am.
And all of this is elevated to a coveted life goal, which is worth striving for and holding onto, so that upon reaching it, one receives applause and ovations from the world. All of humanity is chasing the acquisition of such values. In the process, people sacrifice their health, time, personal needs, and even their lives. This mode of action can be briefly characterized as the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. Possessing these mentioned values is highly honorable.
If I loudly declare that I am a dollar millionaire who wants to share the secrets of my achievements, I will interest some people. But if I say I'm a billionaire, then the whole world will pay attention to me, and many will be very eager to learn how I achieved such success and what its secret is.
What is a billion? For example, if I have the opportunity to set aside $1,000 each month. To accumulate a billion, I would need a million months, or 83,333 years. With a million, it's a bit simpler. If I can set aside a million each year, I would need only a thousand years to accumulate a billion. Can you imagine this picture? All of this is a race after wind.
Around 2002, a Toto-Lotto in Germany accumulated a main jackpot of 32,000,000 Euros. In a week, 42 million lottery tickets were sold at 12 € each. All media talked about nothing else. And I fell under the influence of this deception, discussing with my work colleagues how we would spend the winnings. Of course, everyone became very generous in their dreams and generously gifted me apartments and cars. I even tried to imagine this sum in my pocket. And I immediately saw that I lost peace and tranquility, trying to preserve and spend money I didn't have. But I wasn't even going to buy a ticket because I consider it a satanic deception and do not participate in such games. However, God's peace left me. And it took me a long time before I could remove this infection from my mind, just to stop thinking about it. God's peace became mine again. And I calmly worked, earning my bread with my own hands.
But the world hasn't stopped in its race after wind. It has a goal and meaning to which it wants to lead every person.
What is valuable in the eyes of Heaven, and what currency circulates among holy beings now and throughout Eternity?
1. Look how I love you!
2. Look how much I know about God, How Loving, Wise, True, Merciful, and Just He is, and this is not even the limit.
3. What can I do for your happiness?
These Heavenly values are already in demand. But the world has reduced them to the level of passions and base lusts. However, God has a plan to restore His true values at the end of time and show the visible and invisible worlds what is truly vital and what blessing it brings, giving everything meaning and life. And God confidently implements His plan in the souls of those whose hearts are open and thirst for the acceptance of love, friendship, and happiness.
Jesus calls my achievements, my wealth, and knowledge poverty, destitution, and nakedness. What I consider great is, in His eyes, garbage and dirty clothes. And Christ offers something truly valuable, pure, and white. I think I see and know everything, but He calls me blind, offering to buy His vision and knowledge.
He desires that I be zealous in acquiring heavenly values and, through the gift of repentance, be able to change my thinking.
What does Jesus advise the Laodiceans to buy? Why does He give advice? Usually, He commands or offers, but in this case, He advises buying.
Advice is a recommendation or guidance about what might be right and useful from my point of view. It does not deprive a person of freedom of choice or the ability to decide to go their own way. What love and respect from God! He offers me vitally important values without which I cannot stand in the last time. He gives me the opportunity to independently choose what I consider necessary for myself. And this advice is so modestly offered that it is simply lost as something insignificant and unimportant among hundreds of laws and prescriptions in the Bible. When I hear the word Laodicea, I associate it with a lukewarm state. And I agree that Jesus is right, meanwhile hoping that I am still somewhat hot. And it's completely incomprehensible what He advises there. Even biblical values in my consciousness have gained their significance and priority due to my corruption and damaged mind. But the Lord will not leave anyone in ignorance about the true values of the last time. He draws people's eyes to what will help and enrich them.
What does a man offer his beloved when he gives her a small ring in a box? The ring or something more? I think that in this gift, he presents all of himself, his time, his freedom and love, his property and power. And having made this proposal, the man watches closely, tracking the reaction to his gift. He is very attentive to the behavior and response of his chosen one. In this special moment, the most important decisions are made, and after them begins either a process of separation or preparation for a wedding celebration.
Jesus loves me very much, and by advising me to buy various goods from Him, He offers not some heavenly assortment for my choice, but Himself. Although these goods have different names, essentially they are one whole. They are in one package that cannot be divided. And in this package is the heart of Jesus, which He desires to entrust to everyone who wants to receive it.
But how modestly He presents it. Quietly advising, clothing Himself in symbols, and mentioning it nowhere else. Such an offer is like a small key to a big city, which is conditionally handed to the winner for eternal possession to reign in it.
So, Jesus gives advice, offering a profitable deal. And what should I do with this? He awaits my decision and is very carefully observing how I will relate to it, what I will imagine, whether I will hear this advice, and what I will ultimately decide.
And what is important to Him is not what I say, but how I will act next.
Reflection Questions for this Chapter
1. Please read John 17:2,3; 1 John 5:11,12; Galatians 5:6; Job 23:10; Malachi 3:2-4; Isaiah 1:25; Matthew 22:11; Galatians 3:27; Matthew 6:22; James 1:23-25, and consider these verses in light of this chapter.
2. What did you understand from this chapter?
3. What prevents Laodicea from accepting God's message?
4. Why are the symbols "gold refined by fire, white clothing, eye salve" named as such?
5. What is your response to Jesus' advice?
6. How can I pay for this purchase?