A Pastor's Perspective

“Spiritual Report Card” by Mike Hill, pastor of Calvary Chapel Aberdeen (mjhill@ida.net)

School's out, fun summer!  For me, school has just begun.  With the start of graduate studies, I have a renewed interest in grades.  I passionately desire to excel and get an “A.” 

When I was in high school, getting a dollar for each “A” on my report card was an added incentive to do well.  That's back when fuel prices were less than a buck a gallon. Now I'm paying for the schooling.  But there's a report card I'm even more concerned about where money plays no part. 

Jesus delivered a spiritual report card to seven groups of people.  In Revelation, chapters 2 and 3, Jesus evaluated the spiritual condition of seven “congregations” spread throughout seven cities around the area of modern day Turkey.  What does Jesus deem worthy of an “A”?  How can we avoid flunking out of the classroom of life?  Since God's Word, the Bible, is eternally true and unchanging, the things Jesus said then are relevant to us now.

The church in Laodicea thought they were on the right track but Jesus flat gave them a failing grade.  Problem?  They were lukewarm.  I'm sure they were quite religious, but Jesus was on the outside of their lives.  Ephesus, Pergamos, Thyatira, and Sardis received  high marks in some areas and low marks in others.  Stunningly, Sardis really believed they were spiritually alive, but Jesus bluntly declared, “You are dead.”

How are you doing spiritually?  Obviously, Christ's perspective and appraisal of our lives matter most.  He “...will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom” (2Timothy 4:1b). 

I notice two things about the way Jesus judges.  First of all, His judgment is according to His omniscience (He knows everything) and truth.  A person can't say, “But, hey, you just don't understand the big picture.”  Or, “I didn't really mean to do that!”  He sees the big picture as well as the secret thoughts within our hearts.  Jesus said, “...I am He who searches the minds and hearts” (Revelation 2:23b).

Second, in the context of these seven letters in Revelation 2-3, He didn't point out their sin just to make them feel bad.   He gave them an opportunity to change...to repent.  If you were to receive a spiritual report card right now, what kind of marks would you have?  If there's anything less than an “A,” Jesus says to you, “Repent.  Turn from living independent of Me, turn from your sin, and turn to Me...open the door of your heart and let Me come in.”