Revelation 3:3,4 - For they are worthy

3:3

People, or even churches, can hear the good news, start off well, but then begin to drift away. They allow other things to crowd in, or begin to try to live the gospel by human effort. “Having a form of godliness but denying its power” (2 Tim 3:5). The Galatian church were guilty of this (Gal 3:3). The gospel is the foundation of all we are to do and be. The church is urged to “hold it fast, and repent”. The gospel is not a “beginners lesson”, rather it is a foundation on which we are to build, and the only foundation we must build upon (1 Cor 3:11). If we do drift then the only solution is to repent.

“Like a thief in the night”. This phrase was used by Jesus in speaking of His return, but here it is probably used because of Smyrna’s history, being conquered by invaders who came in the night. Jesus will judge churches (and individuals) who abandon His ways. The Smyrnians needed to repent, or they would suddenly fall. “I will come to you”. With Assyria and Babylon, it was God who was judging Israel. Here it is Jesus who would judge the church.

3:4

However, they were not all bad. There were a few good people who had not “soiled their garments”. Today there are many denominations that have abandoned the gospel and decided that disobedience to God and His word is the way to go. Even with such churches there are usually some who remain faithful to the Lord. Jesus says that they will walk with Him “for they are worthy”. We sometimes get unnecessarily worked up about such phrases for “we are saved by grace” and they think this contradicts this. It does not! Look, the New Testament is clear from beginning to end that how we live matters, and matters greatly. We are responsible beings. “Dressed in white”. This indicates purity. Even in pagan religions, they often wore white for certain religious functions. Also, they will walk with Jesus. Fellowship with the Lord has always been God’s intention, and just think how amazing this is. The creator and sustainer of the whole universe wants to walk with you and me!