Day 05 - Sardis, Thyatira

Day 5 - Restoring Security

We have completed Day 5 in Turkiye!! We started off our day visiting Sardis and then made our way to Thyatira. In the city of Sardis, it appeared very secure and seemed impregnable. It seemed to provide protection but that was not the case. Thyatira had trade guilds which were common in the Roman era. Guilds took care of you and gave you security but you had to compromise in a few ways. Security in the city felt to bring security in life. Security is important but it is not the end all.

In the first part of the letter to Sardis in Revelation 3:1-3, the church receives a letter of criticism. The church was dealing with pride. Pride is possessing and believing on inaccurate view of self. The church was doing things that they thought were important rather than focusing on the purposes of God. You can’t have security in life without first having humility.

Then, we visited a synagogue in Sardis to discuss the second part of the letter in Revelation 3:4-6. It dives into commending the few that are faithful. These people in this letter have not lost their remnant for Christ but remained steadfast. They can have confidence knowing that their name is in the Book of Life. They are totally secure for eternity.

Next, we made our way to Thyatira. In Revelation 2:18-29, it dives into the letter to the church in Thyatira through commendation and criticism. The church was doing good deeds and full of love but they tolerated a false teacher. A false teacher that taught that you can do good things but compromise in a few ways. In contrast, there was a woman named Lydia who started a church in her home and was living for Christ. She was not compromising but remained steadfast in Him. True security is found in Christ.

A takeaway from today is that the world will sell you this false sense of security but ironically what occurs is the world will tell you to be scared. You can find total security in Christ. How do you find it? He sends the Holy Spirit to convict your heart and you confess Him as Lord and Savior. You believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead. Your confession and belief gives you security and you can know you will one day be face to face with Jesus.

- Faith Wolverton