Because you say, “I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing” — and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked. (Revelation 3:17)

Two Views

There are two sides of a coin, which is true with the relationship between man and God. What one view may see is not what the other sees. The challenge of humanity has always been the refusal to accept the view of God over the view of the world. When Eve disobeyed the command of God, she did not accept the view the Lord took about the forbidden fruit. She thought God would be pleased. He was not. What mattered in the end was not her perception but the word of the Lord, which warned her not to take of the fruit. History is filled with the pages of man’s failures because he will not consider how God views things.

The failure to consider the difference between the view of man and the way God sees things is clearly defined in the letters to the seven churches of Asia in the Revelation. There is an offering of how the church looks at itself and then God’s analysis – which is remarkably different. This is highlighted in the letter to Laodicea. The Lord knew the works of the church, and they did not impress. Jesus describes the church as being neither hot nor cold but lukewarm. The Laodiceans looked at themselves with great favor. They thought of themselves as rich and in need of nothing. What an exalted view of self the church possessed. The surrounding churches could have had the same view of the church as a progressive and successful group of saints. They could have been seen as a model church in the eyes of their fellow Christians. What made a difference in who they really were is found in the view God had of their work.

Jesus said that against the backdrop of their believing themselves to be rich and needing nothing, He saw them for what they really were. The Lord described the church as wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked – not a flattering commentary. How different is the view from Heaven. Laodicea was in a state of worthlessness. Their pride dulled their spirituality. Instead of being rich, they were impoverished. They had no vision, and they had little or no spirituality about them, as a naked man had nothing to cover him. This church was revealed for what it truly was in the mind of God.

The view of God is not limited to churches. God sees the hearts of men. He sees the true nature of a man’s character, which often contrasts the way the world may view the man. A hypocrite puts on a face for the world, but inwardly, he is a very different person. While the world looks upon the outward appearance, the piercing eyes of God behold the nature of the heart in its pure form. Some do not feel comfortable reading the Bible because the word of God is a sharp, two-edged sword piercing to the marrow of a man’s true nature. The view of the Lord will always be different than the view man has of himself. It is only when the heart turns to God, seeking examination from the Divine eye, that man can find his true nature.