Revelation 2:8-11, "And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write, 'These things say the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life: I know your works, tribulation, and poverty(but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation 10 days. Be faithful unto death and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear, what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death."
No Condemnation
When studying the 7 churches of Revelation, we must understand, that their is application to the day in which the letters were written to these churches, but also one for us today. The first thing we notice with the church at Smyrna is their is no call to repentance, no condemnation at all from Jesus. In the following 3 letters we will see harsh words from our Savior, but here we see nothing but encouragement and praise.
Notice the words used to describe what this church would endure, tribulation and poverty. They were materially poor and lived lives full of trouble, yet Jesus said they "are rich." Rich how? Rich with spiritual blessings from God for remaining faithful in trying times. In fact, Jesus tells them these tests are tests of their faithfulness, of what they were willing to endure for Christ, and the bible tells us we will endure these same tests. James 1:2-4 tells us, "My breathren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have it's perfect(complete) work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing."
Our Journey with Christ
One of Satan's most effective lies is that once a person is saved by Christ, that everything in their life will be wonderful, no troubles at all. We as Christians know nothing could be farther from the truth, as the bible clearly tells us so, but Satan perpetrates this lie and many others to get people to doubt God, and drift away from Him. If their is one certain truth in truly walking with Christ, it is this: Our road is not easy, and many minefields are present in our progression of drawing nearer to Christ. As I have stated earlier in this series, each of us is either progressing toward Jesus, or in a state of regression away from Him. The Christian life will be a trying life, but as James tells us, these trials, these tests, are to strengthen us and make us more complete in our faith. The church at Smyrna, often called the persecuted church, had many trials it would have to endure. We also will be asked, if we truly are going to stand for God and live the life He has called us to live, to suffer and endure trials by fire, by persecution.
Paul writes in 2 Timothy 3:12, "Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution." Their is an awful lot of meat in that short verse. But this is the lot of living a life for God. Jesus said in John 15:18, "If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you." And in verses 20-21 we learn the reason for this hate, "Remember the word that I said to you, 'A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My name's sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me.'" My goodness! Trials, tribulations, poverty, persecution, hate. This is the life of someone who chooses to follow God? Yes, according to the bible, it is. Not all of the time, but we can surely expect some if not all of these things in our lives if we are truly progressing in our walk with Christ.
For His Name's Sake
We will suffer these things, because Jesus suffered these things. " A servant is not greater than his master." If we are standing for God, loving Him with all of our heart, our life will be seen by the world, and worldly, carnal people, with hatred. But it's not us they hate, but rather the One we stand for, Jesus. In John 15:22 Jesus says. "If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin." Jesus was hated by the world, as we will be also, because we represent God. And God, in His word, condemns their sinful lives. The bible, and a Christian living a godly life, exposes the sin that exists in the world. And worldly people resent their sin being exposed, and their desperate need for a Savior so that their sin can be forgiven.
In our lives if we are to be progressing in our faith, we must be "crucified with Christ." The alternative is to turn away from the things of God, and back to the things of the world. But be encouraged my friends, with us during these trials and tribulations is the One who promises to "never leave us or forsake us." He tells us "do not fear." When we endure these trials and tribulations patiently leaning on the One who did so before us, our witness is never more powerful. . Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 1:3-7, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, and with comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also will you partake of the consolation."
If we are to live for Christ, we also must suffer for Christ. This is part of the progression in living godly in an ungodly world. The consequnces in our personal walk with Christ, and in the lives of our churches, of not doing so are stark. Tomorrow we will begin looking at 3 consecutive churches, and in our case representing an individual believer, who do not suffer the trials well. The picture I will paint is not pretty, but I believe is accurate in describing the lives of far too many Christians and churches across our nation. God bless and have a Jesus filled day.
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