Perhaps the saddest of the seven letters to the churches in Asia Minor was delivered to the church in Laodicea. This city was wealthy due to it being on one of the major trade routes of the region; it was a major banking center. Apparently, the Christians in the city had participated in the prosperity and saw themselves as being self-sufficient due to their wealth. While they may have been materially well-off, Christ saw them as being in great need spiritually: They were “wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.”

Their condition illustrates a principle in Scripture contrasting physical and spiritual eyes. This contrast was illustrated in the life of the nation of Israel. Because of their sin, they could see physically but could not perceive spiritually (Isaiah 6:9). Christ reaffirmed their spiritual blindness when He taught them using parables (Matthew 13:14-15). Just because we can see physically does not mean we always perceive spiritually and therefore truthfully.

Pray with the psalmist: “Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law” (Psalm 119:18).

It is no advantage to be near the light if the eyes are closed.
Augustine