What does Revelation 3:2 mean?

In this verse Jesus commands the church at Sardis to wake up. It had fallen into a slumber in which it supposed everything was fine. It took for granted that it could go on indefinitely without changing its attitude. It assumed it could live on its reputation, but it was a false assumption, just as the city in years past had thought it was immune to attack but had a disastrous fall. Complacency was the church's subtle enemy, so it was important for the church to be vigilant and strengthen the few good things that remained. Jesus described the church's works as incomplete under God's scrutiny. There was still work to be done for God.

Complacency is still a powerful enemy that may gain a stranglehold on a church. It lulls church members into a satisfaction with the way things are. If a church refuses to make necessary changes to failed attitudes and programs, it needs to heed Jesus' command to wake up and strengthen what remains. A complacent church often speaks of its past successes instead of planning future victories, or seems to say "we used to…" more than other churches. A complacent church's last words may well be, "We've never done it that way before."