I was browsing through the Bible this week, thinking of the upcoming holiday of Thanksgiving and several thoughts occurred to me. As I read the pages of Revelation chapter 3, I came across the following scripture: "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." This letter was written to a church in Asia Minor known as the church of the Laodiceans. This church was the "lukewarm" church of John 's letter to the churches.  The Lord expressed extreme displeasure at this church and stated that He would reject the church by "spewing it out of His mouth."  The basic problem seemed to be that the church had left its original teachings and had become too worldly.  Along with the thinking of the world,
the church had become rich.  As we become prosperous and rich, we tend to rely more on ourselves and less on God. 
   According to the word of God, all we have is actually a gift from God.  What we are or what we have is his blessing to us. Now, most of us in this country are very blessed, but we cannot ever lower our guard and become thankless people. Material possessions can mask an underlying situation of being spiritually bankrupt. This particular church had learned to rely on itself and not God. It is God who hears and answers prayers. When we have an incurable illness, it is to God we go. Shouldn't we go to God always and not just when we have a crisis?
   According to scripture, the church of the last days will have this problem.  It will rely on itself and not God. It will be a worldly church.  II Timothy 3 reads: "1- But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2- For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, 

unthankful , unholy, 3- unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!" NKJV
   The way I read the word, those symptoms are prevalent today! Are we living in the last days?  If we go by those symptoms, we are! However, I am not about to try and predict the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ!  However, the words here do upset me about the church and what I see today. I identify with the scripture of the lukewarm church, because we are rich. America is the richest and the most blessed nation on this Earth. I can also identify with the scripture in II Timothy. I believe that America in many cases is just going through the motions when it comes to really having a spiritual relationship with God. We have a form of godliness
in many places, but do we really have a relationship with the Savior?  When we sing our hymns, we should sing to the Lord and not to just each other.  Prayer should be deep and personal communication to God and not just good sounding words.  Sermons should be the unadulterated word of the living God and not just something to make us feel good. We need the power and presence of God now more than ever. 
   When we really know Jesus as our Savior, we cannot help but be thankful for all he has done for us. When we walk daily in the Spirit of God, we cannot help but be thankful.  Let's take time this holiday season to spend some time with God. Let's take the time to teach our children about Jesus.  Let's start by expressing thanks for such a great salvation as we have in Jesus and for this great nation.  May God bless each of you during this Thanksgiving season.