14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
The church is busy like Martha who is too busy and distracted by preparations rather than being at the feet of Jesus like her sister, Mary, who was listening to His word. Mary was heeding the important things while Martha was busy with the trivial things. Likewise, we see the church today busy meddling in politics, worldliness, fighting over the display of the ten commandments, fighting over intelligent design/darwinism in schools, etc. These are not important things that the church today has taken upon itself to be involved in....they are worried and upset about many things...just like Martha. They have neglected the true things of God...the true words of our Lord who we should heed. The church is busy doing "wonderful works" in his name...but, it won't help nor save them. They will lose all things.
Luke 10:
38 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.
39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.
40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
Revelation 3:
15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
The day of judgement comes to the church...Jesus spues all those that are lukewarm...who do not repent...out of his mouth. A frightening thing that is right at the door. We are to be zealous and repent.
16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
The church leaders are reveling in their multimillion dollar churches and "ministries" and positions that they have forgotten the things of God...they are blind guides who think they are rich but are lacking true riches in heaven.
17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
As indicated in the Ephraim study, Ephraim also boasted about being rich and in need of nothing and not seeing any sin within itself....being blind to the reality of its condition.
(Hosea 12:8 KJV) And Ephraim said, Yet I am become rich, I have found me out substance: in all my labours they shall find none iniquity in me that were sin.
Jesus counsels those in the church to buy of him gold tried in fire and white raiment....the refiner's fire purges the evil out of his followers (he rebukes and chastens those he loves in order for them to repent of their ways ...to produce a harvest of righteousness) and the eyesalve causes them to understand his way and to understand the hidden mysteries of the plans of God (the hidden manna).
18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
The church at Laodicea is remarkably mentioned 4 times in the letter to the Colossians (and no where else in the bible except for Revelation) and we should sit up and take note that this letter says things especially to the church today:
(Col 4:16 KJV) And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.
This verse seems to be saying to read to the Laodiceachurch of his time and the spiritual Laodicean church of our time...read the epistle FROM Laodicea.
Some things that really hit home when Jesus counsels the church at Laodicea to annoint their eyes with eyesalve so that they may see or understand the knowledge of his will are discussed in this letter:
9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
eyes that see = being filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding
white raiment to be clothed in = walking worthy of the Lord and being fruitful in every good work
And once again the mysteries of God are made known to us (eyes that see = spiritual understanding),,,,which had been hidden from ages and generations.
26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
The time is coming close for the mystery to be made fully known to his saints of God's plans.
Once again in Colossions comes up the spiritual understanding of mystery of God...in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge:
2:1 For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;
2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
To walk in uprightness = white raiment:
(Col 3:5 KJV) Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
Let the word of Christ dwell in you RICHLY (buy gold tried in the fire = to be rich) in all WISDOM:
(Col 3:16 KJV) Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Walk in WISEDOM:
(Col 4:5 KJV) Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.