Asleep at the Switch – Part 1

Revelation 3:1-6 “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, ‘These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”’

This last Sunday, guest preacher Dr. Willie Nolte continued our sermon series on the “Seven Churches of Revelation”. He explained that the letters to the seven church, as a whole, gave us (1) the highest view of Jesus Christ because He knows what’s going on and will conquer, (2) urge us to be encouraged, even in hard times because at the end of the Bible – we win, and (3) seeks to correct by pointing out “you are nevertheless …, or “I hold this against you …”.

The city of Sardis was a “rich’ and “affluent” metropolis because it was located on a protected high bluff, off the crossroads of two main trade routes in modern day Turkey. Yet, such prosperity and protection tended to create a “nothing’s worry/everything is good”, “no worries”, lazy, fat, dumb and happy attitude that caused its inhabitants to live unaware, and “asleep at the switch”, which led to their being conquered … twice. The term “asleep at the switch” was an old railroad term, where the RR Switchman would switch in-coming and out-going trains to their proper tracks and ensure that no two trains were on the same tracks going head-on towards a collision. Trains run 24 hours-a-day/7 days-a-week/365 day-a-year, so in the dead of night, if the Switchman fell asleep, then the switch would not be thrown and a train would be on the wrong track, headed to disaster. 

Dr. Nolte states that this “asleep at the switch” attitude has permeated the Christian church today also. Sardis and the modern Western churches do not suffer persecution, nor commits heresy; they are just lazy. American churches today are secure, rich, happy, and not paying attention; melting into the lifestyle of the unchurched. There is very little differentiation between the Christian church and the secular world around them. Because the Christian churches are not required to stand up for their faith, they have turned soft. As Jesus says; they have a reputation of being alive, but they are dead to Him. They show up and go through the motions, but have been lulled to sleep because everything is going well. The church, the body of Believers, cannot afford to go to be “asleep at the switch” with easiness that leads to a lazy “easy believism” and a false sense of secure peace.

1 Peter 4:1-6 “Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, intoxicating parties, and abominable idolatries. In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you. They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.”

Jesus gives us five imperatives (essential and present orders and directions to keep doing) to correct the church and restore it to an upright position before the Lord. (1) Wake up! Start pay attention and stay watchful. The enemy (Satan) is looking for a little foot-in-the-door to wreak havoc in our lives.

Let’s continue Dr. Willie Nolte’s message on “Asleep at the Switch" and see the other five imperativees in the next post