But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. — Revelation 3:17
Don’t we hope this verse applies to somebody else?
I just finished reading a great book on marketing, Waiting for Your Cat to Bark? The authors do a beautiful job explaining how marketing works. They use the example of the BMW. They explain how BMW markets to the belief that powerful men buy this ultimate road handling machine. Of course, the advertisers are creating an illusion. A car does not make you powerful. But customers are willing to pay tens of thousands of dollars to buy into the fantasy, because they want to believe that they have it all together and they want to project that image to everyone.
We all want that.
But there is a price to pay for life-changing encounters with Jesus. We have to get real with ourselves. We must look our own neediness square in the face. I’m afraid that the above verse does apply to us. We are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.
Jesus wasn’t talking to a crowd of derelicts on skid row. He was talking to us, the church, sitting comfortably on padded pews.
Jesus didn’t say we are rotten sinners. Reread the verse. He said we are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. Desperate. Needy. The exact opposite of the fancy car fantasy.
This is surgical. Jesus is cutting away the fantasy. He is pruning away pretension.
Jesus has set an appointment with you and an appointment with me. He plans to meet with us. Read on down to verse 20. He is already at the door, knocking.
If you are already on your face, needy before God, then be encouraged! You’re halfway there! And if you’re still in fantasyland, then be encouraged! Jesus will arrange the circumstances of your life so that you will come face to face with reality.
In any case, be encouraged! (more tomorrow)
Dwight
Dwight Clough is the author of four Christian books and is an active member of Lake City Church in Madison. This devotional is also available via email and you may review the archives back to 2002. Dwight and his wife Kim provide prayer ministry for inner healing / transformation and coaching in prayer ministry. He is available to speak to your group or church. To contact Dwight or Kim, use their contact form. You may also support their ministry.