What Jesus Hates More Than Anything

It was also famous for its textile industry. Some of the finest wool in Asia came from Laodicea, a glossy black wool in high demand by royalty and the rich and powerful.

Laodicea was also famous for its medical center which developed an effective eye ointment. The physicians from Laodicea were so famous their names were minted on Roman coins.

To the Christians at Laodicea, Jesus said, “You do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked” (Revelation 3:17, NAS). “You do not know.”

They didn’t realize how needy they were. They didn’t realize how desperate they were for Jesus.

And that’s how most people are in America too. People are so wealthy and so comfortable and so self-sufficient that they don’t feel their need for God.

Jesus said, “I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see” (Revelation 3:18, NAS).

What does that mean? Jesus was saying, “You may be rich, but your gold cannot buy grace and forgiveness. Only I can give you that. You may wear the finest clothes, but your fine clothing cannot cover your spiritual shame. Only I can do that. You may have the finest doctors, but your eye ointment cannot cure your spiritual blindness. Only I can do that.”

They had placed their security in the things of the city and had forgotten how much they needed God.

We do the same thing. We place our security in our jobs, in money, in insurance, in medical care. We may not say it out loud, but we live the same way they did. “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing” (Revelation 3:17, NAS). And when we do, we are vulnerable to spiritual apathy and losing our passion.