The Doctors Diagnosis | The Message of the True Witness (Part 1)

Now, picture this: A man walks down the street in tattered clothes, not realizing how bad they look. He smiles, thinking people are admiring his outfit. He walks by a store and sees what he thinks are designer clothes. But he can’t see well at all—he’s almost blind.

He enters a thrift store and picks out clothes he thinks are beautiful, then tries to buy them with his maxed-out credit card. The cashier tells him there’s no money on the card, but he insists, “I’m one of the wealthiest men in town. Try again.” They argue, and eventually, the police arrive. The man thinks they’re his bodyguards and talks to them like they’re his entourage. Eventually, they suggest he go to a mental hospital. “What do you mean?” he says. “I’m perfectly healthy.”

Does that sound normal?

Welcome to the church of Laodicea.

In Revelation 3, we read about a church that resembles this man. For context, the book of Revelation includes seven messages to seven churches, and the last one, Laodicea, is often understood to represent the church before Christ’s second coming. And that’s us.

Let’s break down the message to Laodicea. The word "Laodicea" means “a people judged.” It’s a message for those living in the judgment hour, specifically the church in the last days.

So, who does Jesus say He is? Let’s look at how Jesus describes Himself. He begins by saying, “These are the words of the Amen.” What does “Amen” mean? It’s a statement of affirmation—it means “let it be so.” Jesus calls Himself the Amen because He confirms all of God’s promises.

Next, He calls Himself “the faithful and true witness.” What does a witness do? A witness testifies. Jesus testifies to us about the character of God and about us—what He sees in us, He will faithfully speak.

Finally, He calls Himself “the beginning of the creation of God.” Jesus isn’t a created being; He is the Creator. He is the origin of all things.

That’s our Doctor, the One who is diagnosing us. But then we get the diagnosis.

If you look at the structure of the letters to the churches, there’s usually a commendation, but here, there is none. Jesus says, “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot.” He doesn’t affirm this church. He says, “You’re neither cold nor hot”—you’re lukewarm.

Being cold means you’re spiritually dead; being hot means you’re on fire for God. But lukewarm means you're indifferent, neither fully for God nor against Him. You have the truth, go to church, sing the songs, pray the prayers—but you’re not fully energized by the gospel. You’re in the dangerous position of being lukewarm, and Jesus cannot work with that.

Jesus says, "I will vomit you out of My mouth." Lukewarmness is unbearable to Him. If you’re cold, He can work with that—He can convict you of your need for change. But lukewarmness means you think you’re fine when you’re not.

Why is this the case? Jesus explains, “You say, ‘I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing.’” But the reality is, you’re spiritually poor, blind, and naked.

This is a wake-up call. We, as a church, are rich in many ways—we have the truth, the health message, and a deep understanding of prophecy. But we are deceived, thinking we have everything we need, when in fact, we are spiritually bankrupt.

Jesus warns us in Mark 10:23-25 that it’s difficult for the rich to enter the kingdom of God. It’s easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter heaven. We are rich in knowledge but spiritually poor if we don’t allow the truth to transform our hearts.

We are like the man who walks around in tattered clothes, unaware of his poverty. But even in our ingratitude, God continues to be patient with us. He’s offering us a chance to wake up from our spiritual slumber.

In Revelation 3:20, Jesus says, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock.” He’s waiting for us to let Him in.

We may have the truth, but we lack humility, love, and the spirit of mission. We need to wake up, recognize our true condition, and respond to His grace. We need repentance—a change of heart, a turning away from sin.

Jesus calls us to be zealous again. Zeal means being “hot” for Him, to be on fire for God’s kingdom. We need to allow His love to stir our hearts and keep the fire burning.

Repentance is more than just feeling sorry for our sins—it’s a permanent change in direction. We must stop wavering between two opinions and choose to serve God wholeheartedly. Every sin matters. One sin can separate us from God, and it’s not a small thing. Jesus is calling us to recognize our true condition and repent. It’s time to stop playing games with God.

We are closer than ever to Jesus’ return. The signs are all around us, and our time to reach others is short. If we focus less on ourselves and more on how we can reach others, we can make a significant impact.

We need to get serious. We need Bible sanctification. Next week, we’ll talk more about how to acquire the gold refined in the fire, put on the robes of righteousness, and use the eye salve He offers to restore our spiritual sight. But for now, think deeply about these truths. This is not just about hearing a sermon; it’s about your eternal destiny. If God is convicting you today, don’t ignore His voice. Come to Jesus as you are, sinful and helpless, and let His love transform you.

I encourage you to humble your heart before God, and He will lift you up.

Father God, we thank You for Your counsel. It may be hard to hear, but we know You speak truth in love. Help us to heed Your words with deep conviction. Prepare us for Your soon coming. In Jesus’ name, amen.