Sardis (Rev. 3:1-6) | Al Chu As we continue our sermon series called the Seven Marks of the Church, Pastor Albert Chu looks at the church of Sardis and the fifth mark of the Church. The mark of reality. Part of Aesop’s fables, the story of the tortoise and the hare is one of my favorites. About the scary fast rabbit who after jumping to a big lead, took it easy, took a long nap, and lost the race against the slow-footed, plodding turtle. The moral of the story teaches that perseverance and hard work pays off and at the same time wags its finger at contemptuous overconfidence. There was a city in Asia Minor that could be compared to the overconfident hare. In fact, the hare may even symbolically represent this city, for the great Aesop, the author of the story, lived there. The city was named Sardis. Sardis had a great reputation, but that's all they had. They looked like they were alive, but inside, they were dead. Jesus tells them to "Wake Up!" Like the hare, wake up before it's too late! Wake up, or you'll lose the race! Tapestry, are we dead or alive? Are we going through all the right motions, doing the right things, knowing the right answers, singing all the right songs, and just coming to church because you always have, but are we missing something in here. Ours heart is not alive to the spirit.
