We began this series with the premise that in the world today, and specifically the church, that their are representatives of each of the 7 churches. That we who claim to be Christians are either progressing in our faith or we are regressing. So let us review each of the 7 churches, and as we do, let us examine ourselves, and look in to the mirror of God's word too see which church best represents us.
Ephesus: As we stated the church in Ephesus is the key. This is the church that left it's "first love." To leave our "first love" is to abandon the "Greatest Commandment," to "love the Lord God with all of our heart, and with all of our soul, with all of our mind, and with all of our strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself." If we do not love God with all of our heart, we are incapable of loving our neighbor as ourselves, and showing the love of Christ to the world. This is agape love, the love of God, an it is a supernatural type of love, possible only through the power of the Holy Spirit. If we leave our "first love," we will inevitably fall away from God, and regression will occur. The churches that follow demonstrate whether we have maintained our "first love," or we have not. Whether we are living in the world and the flesh or abiding within the person of Christ.
Progression(Smyrna and Philadelphia): These 2 churches stood out, as Christ had no condemnation for either of them. They had maintained their "first love" and been judged faithful by Christ. At Smyrna we saw how if we remain faithful to Jesus trials will be an inescapable part of the Christian life, as they are there to grow our faith. We will be tested by poverty, tribulations, sufferings, and persecution, but these are to refine us and grow us. And when we persevere during these times and our lives glorify God, our witness is never more powerful.
At Philadelphia we saw the end result of our perseverance, as we have leaned on God's power instead of our own. We have remained obedient and stood for Christ, and have been judged by Christ as worthy of His kingdom, as Christ has opened a door for us, that "no one can shut..." As a result of our faithfulness, we will be kept from the time of testing(Rev 3:10) that will come upon the whole world. These 2 churches picture the believers, that when Jesus returns for His church, will be the living who will be part of the rapture. These 2 churches represent what we as Christians should look like in our daily walk with Jesus. They are a testament to perseverance and faithfulness, of living a godly and holy life.
Regression(Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis): In these 3 churches we see the inevitable regression that will occur if we do not maintain our "first love." At Pergamos we saw, that if we leave our "first love," we will fall away from the word of God, the bible. When the bible loses it's place of authority in our lives, the foundation for living a godly and holy life is removed. When this happens false teachings and doctrine will enter our lives and churches and a slide away from God will speed up. If we do not accept that the bible is the word of God, all of it, not just parts of it, we have rejected the will of God given to us through the bible.
At Thyatira, we saw that when we leave our "first love," and abandon the bible, sin will take root in our lives. Without a consuming devotion to God and the acceptance of the bible as the inspired, inerrant, immutable word of God, their is no absolute truth to base our lives upon. When right and wrong is determined by us and society, instead of what God says, sin will overtake our lives.
At Sardis we saw the end result of leaving our "first love," abandoning the bible, and surrendering to sin instead of God. Jesus said this church had a name that they were "alive," but they were "dead." Although a remnant of true believers remained in each of these 3 churches, the vast majority had fallen away to the point, where here at Sardis, most claimed to be Christians but were in fact, unregenerate; unredeemed; without Christ. They were lost, never having been truly "born again" a "new creation" in Christ, having Jesus on their lips, but lacking a relationship from the heart with Him. Christ's plea to each of these churches was to turn to Him and repent, embrace once again their "first love" and leave the ways of the world and the flesh. These churches represent what the bible calls being backslidden. And that if we are truly a child of God, that we cannot remain backslidden, but will indeed return to Him and repent. A person who never repents of sin reveals of themselves they were probably never saved in the first place.
The Lost Church(Laodicea): This is the saddest church of all, as they are not even a church. They have nothing to do at all with Christ, and instead worship idols in their lives and false gods. Laodicea represents the lost world; the agnostics, atheists, and those in false religions who deny and in fact despise Jesus Christ. They viewed themselves as enlightened, but Jesus said of them they were "wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked," and they didn't even realize it. This group of people represent those who were never God's, as they refused to acknowledge Jesus in any way as Lord and Savior, and are a picture of the people who will enter the tribulation period.
Jesus's call to them was to "be zealous(for Him) and repent." They needed the salvation that is only available through Jesus, but were in fact children of the devil. Jesus said of these he would "vomit" them out of His mouth. They sickened Him, as they mocked the sacrifice that He made on the cross for the whole world. To deny Jesus punches our ticket for hell.
Which One Are You?
So, as we look in to the mirror of God's word, and examine ourselves, which church best describes us? Are we progressing toward Christ or regressing away from Him? If we view ourselves as faithful(as God describes faithfulness in the bible), we must maintain our "first love" to assure we pass the tests that will come our way. If it has been revealed to us that we have backslidden from the ways of God, the call to us is to reclaim our "first love" and repent. If we are indeed fully without Christ, denying Him and His ways, the call to us is to "believe" and accept Him as our Lord and Savior. The "wages of sin is death"(eternal spiritual death), and an eternity of torment in hell, instead of the glorious presence of God.
I hope we all have learned something as we have sought to apply the message of the 7 churches to our lives in the here and now. My prayer is that all of us will be found faithful, but if not, that we would reclaim our "first love" or truly come to Christ if we have never done so. God bless you all and let us all sing the praises of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ today.
No comments:
Post a Comment