p. 5 | The Message to the Church of the Laodiceans

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 24, 1914

The Message to the Church of the Laodiceans

By D. W. C. McNETT

D. W. C. McNETT

It has come to be generally believed by Seventh-day Adventists that the message of Rev. 3: 14-22 is being received by God's remnant people, and no doubt this is true of many in the church. But is there not danger of our receiving this solemn message theoretically, thus falling into the very error which the message itself warns against? Our great danger is in self-deception — feeling all right when indeed we are all wrong. This message is more than a sentiment adopted as an opinion or a creed. It is a call to self-examination, a call to repentance. We are exhorted, “Be zealous therefore, and repent.” It is to the closing work of the gospel what the message of John the Baptist was to the establishing of the gospel. His message was: “Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” “Prepare ye the way of the Lord.” “To make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” Compare Matt. 3: 2; Luke 3: 4; 7: 27; 1: 17; Mal. 3: 1, first clause; and Mal. 4: 5.

The divine purpose of the Laodicean message seems to be to cause the inward perception to become clearer; the quickening of the individual consciousness to one's condition as needy, unworthy, sinful, self-righteous, self-important, and self-satisfied, consequently leading us to a state of humility and self-abnegation well-nigh unknown to many of us.

Many and varied are the figurative expressions used by the inspired writers to describe this work of repentance, that we may comprehend its nature and be impressed with its importance. For instance, we read: “Whosoever shall fall on this stone [Christ] shall be broken” (Matt. 21: 44); “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him [Christ]” (Rom. 6: 6); “Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him” (verse 8); “In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands” (Col. 2: 11); “Buried with him” (verse 12); “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth” (Col. 3: 5); “Baptized into his death” (Rom. 6: 3); “And have no confidence in the flesh” (Phil. 3: 3). It is the office of the Holy Spirit to convince of sin and to direct the work of repentance for us, and not we for ourselves, apart from him. “Him [Christ] hath God exalted, . . . for to give repentance to Israel.” Acts 5: 31. Our part is to pray for the Holy Spirit, and then submit to its workings. The inspired caution is, “Quench not the Spirit.”

Is it not possible that we are grieving away from our hearts and minds that tender Guest, while inviting its presence? The Holy Spirit must be recognized and received. We must buy the “gold of faith and love,” and anoint our eyes with the eyesalve of spiritual discernment before we shall recognize the gifts of the Spirit in our brethren, or its operations upon our own hearts. In other words, we must have the “fruit of the Spirit,” which “is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance,” before we shall receive the fullness of the Spirit, which includes the gifts of the Spirit. The body, with all its powers, must be presented “a living sacrifice,” given for service at the Spirit's bidding, and we must be “transformed by the renewing” of our minds before we shall be able to “prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God,” for us individually in the gifts of the Spirit. See Rom. 12: 1-8.

Let us thank God for the degree of the Holy Spirit already given, and ever cherish its gracious influence upon our hearts. As we do this, we invite him into our hearts and his presence will be more constant. Then let us hold fast to the promise, “And the Lord shall guide thee continually.” Isa. 58: 11.