Lesson 82. Jesus Loves Laodicea

In His messages to six of the churches in the book of Revelation, Jesus expresses His approval and praise while also pointing out what must be corrected. In the message to His church of the last days, He finds nothing deserving His approval. At the same time, the Lord reveals the church’s problems very clearly and provides a solution, counseling her to correct the situation in a particular way.

It is astonishing that with such an abundance of light, knowledge, education, and economic and technological development, we have not become better spiritually. On the contrary, we have lost the foundation that is pleasing to God. Of course, this condition is created by the overall picture of spiritual decline in Christ’s church. But when we speak of individual children of God, Jesus has always had people who followed the truth and lived faithfully according to the light they had received. Yet despite Laodicea’s miserable condition, the Faithful Witness declares His love for her. He says that He rebukes and chastens those whom He loves. Moreover, as a reward for obedience, Jesus gives His people promises unlike any ever given before. In order to help believers leave their lukewarm condition, the Lord has personally come. He offers fellowship with Himself without intermediaries so that everyone who responds may personally learn to live according to the truth. Christ’s love for His people so completely fills His heart that He is ready to minister to His chosen vessels day and night, leading them out of their deplorable condition.

But Laodicea’s problem is pride and spiritual blindness, which prevent God from fully revealing His power in His children. As He counsels them to reconsider their attitude toward the truth, God opens new opportunities for spiritual growth and development, offering Himself as their Teacher, Friend, and Counselor. He no longer promises to come soon. He has already come and is standing at the door.

How precious we are to Jesus! With what tenderness He expresses concern about our true condition! What an amazing solution He has chosen for our salvation! How many blessings of Heaven Jesus has prepared for us!

By offering us the opportunity to buy gold tried in the fire, the Lord desires to see us possess this heavenly treasure. How much does a kilogram of His gold cost? I think all the money in the world would not be enough to purchase it. But the thirsty soul receives this treasure in unlimited measure. Heavenly gold is Heaven’s most precious wealth. It is the very currency used among all heavenly beings. And now, at last, it becomes the possession of sinners who believed but stopped growing.

The love and faith of God’s children have always received the approval of the Most High. They continually testified to the close relationship between the redeemed and the Lord. Throughout all ages, this gift was strengthened and developed. But in the last days, because iniquity has abounded, the love of many has grown cold. Love has not disappeared or lost its name, but it has ceased to be the motivating power and has become cold and calculating. Fear, duty, and guilt have taken its place. Guided by such motives, I try to serve and please God. When I succeed at something, I begin to regard myself as rich and spiritually advanced, and in my own eyes my righteousness goes completely off the scale. If I am surrounded by equally advanced friends, together we are a powerful force. We have certain achievements of which we can boast. For the sake of His Name and because of His love for us, God blesses our efforts to earn salvation, giving us protection and success in some of our undertakings. Yet how sadly He watches us. Though I have an ocean of God’s love available to me, I content myself with dry crackers in an attractive package.

But in order to receive God’s blessings, I need faith that they exist, that they are mine, and that I will receive them.

Jesus asks His disciples in Luke 18:8: “Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” This is precisely the faith that He offers us the opportunity to buy from Him—the faith and love that will truly make us rich. Through them, God’s character will be revealed and restored in my heart. The Lord will teach me to apply these qualities of the soul in my life, and I will come under the special influence of the Holy Spirit, Who will reveal to me the full depth and beauty of God’s plan of salvation for my time.

God’s Agape love now belongs to me, and amid the elements and temptations of this world, I become a truly rich person with unlimited access to heavenly treasures. To comprehend this love, I need this very love and the very One Who will teach me how to use it.

But Jesus’ plan is not only to endow me with heavenly blessings, but also to teach me how to use them.

The exchange does not happen all at once. There are many things within me that I have hidden very deeply, and the Lord begins the process of cleansing me. It may be quick, or it may take a long time. Everything depends on me—on my desire to grow and on my faith. As the Lord exposes the dirty and weak places within me, He asks what I will do about them. He has already asked me to be zealous and repent, but each time He waits for my decision. Absolute love and complete respect for my freedom. How pleasant this is! And if I choose sin and the works of the flesh, I will continue developing in that direction.

Grace has one interesting characteristic. It is like the principle connected with the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If I am faithful to God’s principles, I may eat the fruits of His blessings, and no one prevents me. I have unlimited access to the tree of life, but no one guards the other tree either. Yet if I eat the fruit of the forbidden tree, I immediately deprive myself of the fruit of the tree of life. A guard takes its place beside it and blocks access to its fruit.

But Jesus loves me so much that He paid for my sins with His Own life, opening access to the life-giving fountain. The Lord is ready to forgive and give drink to everyone who now thirsts and seeks. Whoever thirsts, come and drink.

With what compassion Jesus calls me by name and tells me that I am wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked. He does not leave me in this condition, but offers me Heaven’s solution to my problems. It is the surest and best solution.

He is ready to give me everything most precious and costly that Heaven possesses—everything most right and most good. When I receive this gift, I will not be disappointed because I was given something bad and imperfect while the best was saved for later. The beautiful love that I am learning now under battle conditions will remain just as wonderful throughout all Eternity. In Christ’s school, I am learning to love those who do not deserve it, those who hate me, and those who kill me. There will be no such people in Eternity, but my earthly experience will remain with me so that I may testify to the entire Universe about the depth of God’s love and exalt Jesus for this gift. The friendship with Jesus that began here through faith in the unseen and under the most difficult circumstances will also be taken to Heaven, where it will continue to develop amid open love and unrestricted opportunities.

For now, I am learning acceptance and trust. I am discovering the power of love, uncovering its depth and beauty, and experiencing its victories. Jesus Himself instructs and corrects me.

I do not know how love was given to God’s children during the Middle Ages, but I see the power it possesses within me in our time. I understand that this is only the beginning of the great discoveries and works of love—a love that has put an end to sin in my life and is mercilessly destroying it, showing me a more excellent way.

1. What was revealed to you in this lesson?

2. Is Christ’s message to Laodicea addressed to the entire church, or also to me personally?

3. What will happen if I do not study this message or take an interest in it?

4. Why does Jesus call me wretched when everything is going well in my life?

5. Why does the Lord chasten those whom He loves? Is this fair?

6. What does God’s chastening look like?

7. Please read Revelation 3:19; Psalm 141:5; Proverbs 3:12; Proverbs 13:24; 1 John 4:17; and Galatians 5:6 in the light of our lesson.