Read Revelation 3:18-19.
“The Laodiceans are typical of the modern world, which revels in that which the natural eye can see but is untouched by the gospel and does not see beyond the veil of the material to the unseen and real eternal spiritual riches.” -John Walvoord
It is not in the physical or material things that are most pleasing to God, but in the spiritual and in the heart. Jesus strongly advises in ironic fashion that they buy what cannot be bought, namely:
- The riches of Christ attained through the purification of fire or hardships. This was a church that probably rarely suffered need. Without the heat of trials, one is left to spoil in a lukewarm climate.
- The white garments of righteousness – in contrast to the black wool garments they produced and sold. They needed to be clothed in the righteousness only Christ could provide to cover the shame of their real condition.
- The ointment or salve to open spiritual eyes. Here they lacked spiritual insight and needed to seek after Christ to heal their blindness.
The Laodiceans had become accustomed to living almost entirely in the physical world. In the process, they missed the heart of God. He loved them and therefore would not allow them to continue on this path. He desired inner purity, righteousness, and eyes that would see the world through His eyes.
There is no getting away from living in the physical world. But it is not the only world, and if we confine ourselves to this realm, we will altogether miss what God had in mind for us. The physical world is merely a shell in which we live a spiritual life. Failure to stay connected to the spiritual through the Holy Spirit and Christ is a Laodicean recipe for disaster. As you go about your day (in the physical world), be sure to stay connected to spiritual. Pray throughout the day, ponder His Word in your heart, consider what God would have you do in given situations. In short, take Christ with you wherever you go. In so doing, it will keep you from falling into the error of the Laodicean church.