Sardis had a name that it was living because it was growing rapidly, the people were enthusiastic, new programs were being added continually, the music was upbeat. It was an exciting place to go on Sunday morning and was filled with bright, happy faces.

The ideal church we would say. A dead church the Lord says.

Why was it dead? Because the activities were not coming from God but from the energy, wisdom, and talents of the flesh. It was an animated corpse propped up by busy believers. It taught sound doctrine but sound doctrine is not life!

Christ was troubled about the (you guessed it) works of the assembling in Sardis. Christ advised them to remember what they had received originally and to repent of charging off in their own strength.

He then told this apparently large assembling they had a few people who were keeping their robes clean (walking in righteousness). They were eligible to walk with Christ in the white robes of the royal priesthood.

But what about the majority of church attenders in the "living" church in Sardis? What about the majority in your church?

He who conquers the fleshly works of Sardis, going back to the ways of the Spirit, of prayer and holiness, will be clothed in white so he can always be with the Lord in the work of the priesthood. His name will remain in the Book of Life.

The majority of believers will have no such privilege. They stand in danger of having their name removed from the Book of Life. They cannot be certain of their eternal destiny until they stand before Christ and His conquerors at the white throne.

The name of the victorious Christian will be confessed before the Father and His angels but the name of the defeated Christian will not be confessed before the Father and His angels.

Any believer can be an overcomer if he or she chooses. It means merely that you do God's will at all times. If you are weak call on the Lord endlessly until you gain victory.

But if you hang back in self-pity, telling yourself and everyone around you that you are unworthy and cannot make it and it's no use, guess what? You are defeating yourself. No one feels sorry for you. God can bring any soul no matter how messed up to perfect victory. But God can do nothing with those who judge themselves unworthy of the Kingdom.

The first class of people in the Lake of Fire are the timid!

You better quit feeling sorry for yourself. Think about the Son of God on the cross of Calvary and get with the program. This is serious business!

The army is not going to wait while you are pouting and plead with you to get on your horse.

To be continued.