Revelation 3:1-6 AN AUTOPSY OF A DEAD CHURCH

  Imagine you are crawling, scorched, near-death, across a hot burning desert.  You are dying of thirst and close to perishing. But, ahead, you see a sign that reads, “Cool, clear, life-giving water - only five miles ahead”. This sign gives you renewed energy, new hope and you continue your tormenting crawl across the parched sand.  As you arrive at the promised place, you see a magnificent building, radiant in its beauty, the sign outside invites you in, even beckoning you with the promise of life-giving water.

      So you crawl through the entrance into a glorious building and there before you is the promised well, with the bucket ready to be let down and filled with water to quench your thirst and to pour life back into your body.  With the last bit of your strength, you lower the bucket into the well, expecting a splash as the bucket hits the water, but it never comes.  The only sound is the dull thud of the bucket hitting the bottom.