I hate to exercise. I wish I loved exercising. The only reason I ever exercise is an attempt to maintain a decent weight. Now enter menopause. I have put on about thirty pounds, all around my middle. I’m doing the right things. I eat a Mediterranean diet. I don't eat white sugar. I used GOLO for six months. I endured intermittent fasting. I’ve tried front loading my day with protein, eating my largest meal of the day at lunch, and consuming a light nutritious dinner. Want to know how much weight I’ve lost in 2024? Zero pounds. Nada. Zip. Negatory pounds. I haven’t really gained any either. I’m camped out on that plateau, but it feels like if I don’t get the weight off now, I never will.
My best friend loves to exercise. Walking, running, biking, literal energizer bunny. She motivates me to wake up at 4:30 am. I have another amazing neighbor who walks with me, and I am averaging 12-16 miles a week. I’m lifting weights in an attempt to build back some lost muscle mass. I get on the Peloton if the weather is poor. Daily yoga is essential if I want to be able to consistently move. But I still hate every second of it. When that clock rings, the urge to hit snooze, roll over and text my friends Not Today, and get more rest is overpowering. But do you know what is running on repeat in the back of my head? Wake up Nancy. This is for your health, Nancy. Wake up Nancy. This is so if you have grandchildren, you can keep up! Wake up, Nancy…WAKE UP!
Background on the Church at Sardis
Sardis was founded by the Hittites around 1200 BCE. It maintained a consistently large population of over 100,000 inhabitants. The city reached its height of power under the rule of the Lydian Empire, specifically King Croesus. A common saying of the day claimed the aphorism “rich as Croesus”. Sardis was known for agriculture, wool production, luxury purple dye, and gold mines. Legends claim King Croesus had thousands of pounds of gold hidden throughout the region. So if Croesus had the riches of a kingdom, how did the Lydian Empire fall?
I’ve discussed an acropolis before. Think Parthenon. The entire city population did not actually live on the acropolis, but in a time of threat, could climb to the top for protection. Food stores and a water source existed at the top of each acropolis. Sardis’ acropolis was so high and well defended, people thought it impregnable. However, historians tell the story of how Cyrus defeated the Lydians (the exact same King of Persia from the Bible). After careful observation, the scouts for Cyrus noticed people passing into the mountain and emerging on top of the acropolis. In the dead of night, Cyrus’ troops climbed the secret passageways and conquered the Lydian’s while they slept. 400 years later, the Seleucids used the same tactic to defeat the Persians. Each defeat, the citizens were caught sleeping.
So what issue does Jesus have with the Church at Sardis? “you have a reputation for being alive—but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what little remains, for even what is left is almost dead. I find that your actions do not meet the requirements of my God. Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly. Repent and turn to me again. If you don’t wake up, I will come to you suddenly, as unexpected as a thief.” Revelation 3:1-3 NLT
Once again, Jesus meets the church exactly where they are - understanding their history as a conquered people. The Lydians, the Persians, the Seleucids, all became complacent with their apparent strong fortress. Once they were caught sleeping, they lost everything. So Jesus commands them to Wake Up! If they don’t, He will come and be the ultimate conqueror.
Jesus commends some members of the church. “Yet there are some in the church in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes with evil. They will walk with me in white, for they are worthy.” Revelation 3: 4. As John wrote for his audience of the day, he could always flip the script. Worship that occurred in Sardis involved sacrificing certain body parts to the city’s goddess. The worshipers wore white, and if a robe became bloodyed during the sacrifice, the worshiper would be blessed. Church history claims that the early Christians may have operated a facility that treated the wounded worshipers as they descended from the acropolis. Jesus directly addresses the customs of the city and offers eternity not mutilation for the true believers at the Church at Sardis.
In this letter, we again see how personal Jesus can be for the believer. He never negates the struggles of the people of the church, and he offers glory for those who can persevere. “I will announce before my Father and his angels that they are mine.” Revelation 3: 5b. Can you imagine your name being announced in front of God and the angels? Jesus takes his personal relationship with us so seriously that he vehemently claims us as His! What a wonderful promise.
So why am I trying so hard to exercise and be healthy? Why the urgency? My father had a heart attack when he was my age that resulted in open heart surgery - five by-passes. We should have lost him, but my neighbor across the street was a cardiac nurse. She was at the house and realized immediately what was happening. She didn’t even wait for an ambulance. She called out the heart team and drove him to the hospital herself. His heart disease was as unexpected as a thief. So why would I not take my diet and exercise seriously? My cholesterol stays high. My blood pressure slowly creeps up every time it is checked. My situation is urgent. I may look very alive on the outside, but are my insides dying?
I don’t want to be caught sleeping. I want to wake up! Literally, I desire my body to be strong. Figuratively, I desire the security that I belong to Jesus, and I want to be truly alive. I want my Savior to call my name when it is time and not be stolen by a thief that I never saw coming.
Even when I don’t want to wake up, ultimately, the decision is mine to make. You may not be surrounded by people cutting off body parts in the name of worship, but are you awake? Do you have a reputation for being alive but something inside you just doesn't feel right? When was the last time you took a good look at your life and repented and turned back to Jesus?
Ultimately for the Church at Sardis, the question teetered on their reputation of being alive but not truly understanding the grace of Christ on the inside. It is still the same question for us today. How do we engage the world and not become part of it? How do we not allow the world to cut off little slices of our soul? The Sardinians helped the worshipers with their wounds, but how tempted were they to seek out the extreme wealth and prosperity of the city? Did they compromise their relationship with Christ? Do we?
Wake Up. No one has a guaranteed tomorrow. Live boldly today!
Thank you for this reminder! You are living your faith. And yes, I hate exercising too! 😊