COVID-19 has us all on edge. Constant hand washing has even those among us who aren’t germophobes, wondering what germs we’re encountering with every public place we visit. For some, there’s a genuine fear of becoming sick from something that only a few weeks ago we didn’t know existed. For others it’s the fear of the long term effect this crisis will have. There’s been a perspective shift.
A great danger in my life, and especially in crisis, is to see a situation different than reality. Jesus addressed a church living in the first century in Laodicea. He first tells them He knows their works, which were neither cold nor hot. Then he makes a contrast between how they viewed themselves, and how He viewed them.
15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 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— 18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. Revelation 3:15-18
Notice that they saw themselves as rich, wealthy and in need of nothing. Whether Jesus was speaking of their material state or spiritual mentality, either way, their thinking was faulty and clearly had a negative, significant impact. Their downfall was that they didn’t realize their spiritual poverty. They were in fact miserable, poor, blind, and naked, and they didn’t see it.
Jesus told us, “blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). This is spiritual poverty. We are to be more than spiritual paupers (very poor); the only way we can come to Jesus is as a desperate beggar, with absolutely nothing. To those who are miserable, poor, blind, and naked, belongs the Kingdom of heaven! We actually NEED to come to Jesus this way. Yet pride, and our own perspective of being fine, needing nothing more than what we already posses, keeps us from seeing our own realty. In this state of blindedness, we are the people of Laodicea that Jesus rebuked, ready to vomit from His mouth. Yet, I glory that Jesus cleared up any misconception about the cause for His rebuke. It was out of love (Revelation 3:19). He desired to give them more.
More than praying for health, and immunity from unseen germs, I’m praying today that I will see myself as Jesus sees me. I want to listen to Jesus’ words when He said to take heed that our hearts not be weighed down, and that Day come upon us unexpectedtly (Luke 21:34-36). I want to be the faithful servant, who is found watching at Jesus’ coming (Matthew 12:37). I want to awaken from sleep and put on the Lord Jesus, making no provision for the flesh, which includes fear (Romans 13:11-14). I want to be the virgins whose lamps were full of oil who entered the wedding with the bridegroom (Matthew 25:4). I pray not for an awareness of germs, but an awareness of my spiritual condition: miserable, poor, blind, and naked. I desire gold, refined in the fire, that I may be made rich (Isaiah 55:1-3). I long for white garments, to clothe the shame of my nakedness (Isaiah 61:10-11). More than anything I want my eyes anointed so that I can see (John 9:25). Truly see. This is the perceptive shift our nation needs.
I adapted this from a popular writing by Kitty O’Meara that is circulating:
And the people stayed home. And read God’s word, and listened, and learned of their spiritual poverty, and rested, and found newness of life in Jesus. They were still, and listened more deeply. They prayed. Some danced. Some met their shadows. And the people began to think differently. And the people healed.
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