Revelation 3:4
“Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.”
The church of Sardis was one of seven churches that God addressed. The church was located in the metropolis of Lydia in Asia Minor. This church had apparently lost its zeal to reach the lost for Christ. God said in verse 1, “I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.”
We don’t know, but this church could have been a larger church because everyone thought they were a church that was alive, but God knew they were dying. The works this church used to produce were no longer producing. The standards this church used to have were gone because they had succumbed to the pressures of their society. God says concerning this in the verse above that there were a few who had “not defiled their garments.” That would mean there were many who had defiled their spiritual garments and started dressing and living like the world. Though this church was a seemingly large church that was influential in their community, they had lost the fire for doing right.
However, in this church there were still a few Christians who had not lost their fire. There were still a few Christians who were still going after the souls of men. There were still a few Christians who had kept their standards. These were the Christians whom God commended in the verse above. I don’t know, but I would imagine these few people were looked down upon by the rest of the church. I imagine that these few Christians were considered divisive by the rest of the church because of their stand. No doubt these few Christians were doing their best to keep the old-time religion alive in spite of the attacks of their fellow brethren. What’s encouraging is that their effort to keep the old-time religion alive did not go unnoticed by God, and it kept God from destroying a church.
It has always been a few who have turned things around in a society or church. It was the three hundred men with whom Gideon fought that saved their nation. It was Jonathan and his armour bearer who fought and defeated the Philistines while the rest of the troops were sitting in fear of what they were going to do. It was one young boy by the name of David who stood against the giant of his day and saved his nation. It was the Prophet Elijah who stood alone against the wicked king that brought God’s fire from Heaven. It was eleven disciples whom Jesus took and taught how to stand and reach a lost and dying world who influenced thousands to the point that they turned a world upside down for Christ.
Christian, you may feel that you are the only one who is standing against the world, but let me encourage you that it is always the few who turn the tide. You may think nobody notices your stand, and at times you can come to the point when you wonder, “What’s the use?” Let me encourage you that God notices. Let me encourage you that it is your stand that gives one more chance for the old-time religion. You must not become weary in doing right, for God notices what you are doing. Your works and stand can certainly be the spark that turns things around.
Let me encourage you not to succumb to the pressures of compromise. When everyone else chides you for your vocal stand, you just keep on standing. Yes, there will be critics, but it is always the few who make a difference. All it takes is for the few to stop standing and to stop letting their voice be heard for evil and compromise to win. You may feel like a dinosaur in your generation for what you believe, but you keep standing by the old King James Bible. Just like God gave the church of Sardis a chance to see His blessings again, it could be your stand that causes your generation to see God’s blessings again. When all seems to be hopeless, keep standing and don’t despair!