Looking Deeper

by Marvin Bublitz

Look deeper. Isn’t that what we want? We don’t want people to simply judge us by what they see. We were all taught not to judge a book by its cover. Instead, we want people to look deeper.

Well, sometimes. We don’t want them to look too deep. When someone peeks inside your closet, they see it all. We would rather they just look at what we want them to see, and hope no one peeks deeper.

This is true not only of us as individuals but also collectively as families, congregations, and a synod. Think about how a family dinner can look different depending on who is visiting. Is it paper plates and paper towels today or the fine china and linen napkins? In our congregations, we observe some of the same things. We try to put our best foot forward when there are a lot of visitors or when the wider community is watching—when we’re hosting a new parents’ night, for example, or a daycare.

I am not saying those things are bad. But I sometimes hear people say that, if we just do this or that, then maybe we can get people to come here. We end up doing good things with ulterior motives, not simply because they are the right thing to do. Long gone is the recognition that our good works grow out of faith in Christ.

Such was the case for the church of Sardis (see Revelation 3:1-6). This church had the “reputation of being alive,” we read. “But you are dead,” Jesus warns. “Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of My God. Remember then, what you received and heard. Keep it and repent.”

I sometimes hear people say that, if we just do this or that, then maybe we can get people to come here. We end up doing good things with ulterior motives, not simply because they are the right thing to do. Long gone is the recognition that our good works grow out of faith in Christ.

The congregation in Sardis appeared to be alive and thriving. You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. There is no fooling Him. To the One who looks deeper than appearances and deeds, the congregation in Sardis was seen as dead.

We are concerned with how others see us, but if we hear anything in this letter to Sardis it should be that what truly matters is how the Lord sees us. When He peers into the depths of our soul, into the heart of our congregations and synod, what does He see? Does He see that, which like Sardis, only appears to be alive—only going through the motions? Or worse, does He see that we have long forgotten that any good work must flow from faith? For without faith it is impossible to please Him.

It is the worthy Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, who takes away your sin and my sin—the Lamb slain who makes us worthy…

The Lord sees that we are poor miserable sinners who have failed and stand condemned. “Thou art dead.” We must admit, yes, Lord, we stand condemned. And if that were the end of it, indeed we would be dead—dead eternally, condemned to hell. We remember the Word spoken to us: the wages of sin is death. The soul that sins, it shall die.

But the Lord sees more than just condemned sinners when He looks at us. He sees us through the eyes of a Good Shepherd. He sees us through eyes stinging with sweat and blood running down His thorn-crowned brow. To those worthy, He declares they will be clothed in white and walk with Him. He will confess them before the Father (Revelation 3:4-5).

Now, who is worthy? Worthy is the Lamb. None of us are worthy of our own works or efforts or motives, but He makes us worthy. As we read in Ephesians 2:1-6:

You were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience… But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

In the message to Sardis, we are reminded that our focus must not be on our actions, our works—not even on our appearances or motives. Rather, we focus on the Word we are to remember, for faith cometh by hearing. We focus on repentance for our false actions and motives, for our lack of faith in His righteousness to be all-sufficient to make us worthy. 

It is the worthy Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, who takes away your sin and my sin—the Lamb slain who makes us worthy: worthy to stand in the judgement, worthy to stand with Him in the heavenly realms dressed in His pure white righteousness, worthy to live forever in our Father’s mansion. For it is the Lamb—the Son, our Saviour—who confesses our name before the Father. He who bore our sins declares: Father forgive them. I have made them worthy, worthy to have their name written in the Lamb’s book of life. 

Rejoice; the Lamb has worked your redemption. He who has ears let him hear. Amen.

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Rev. Marvin Bublitz is Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC)’s East Regional Pastor. This column is adapted from Rev. Marvin Bublitz’ sermon at the 2022 LCC Synod Convention.

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