Eyes and Feet

Posted on by korgrocker

“‘To the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze.”
Revelation‬ ‭2:18‬ ‭NIVUK

It is fascinating to watch a fire. There seems to be something within it that is alive. The flickering. The feel of heat. As a child, I remember sitting on the hearth rug looking at burning coals. Seeing the tar melting and bubbling out, sometimes making a hissing noise. The crackles and pops adding to the experience. And occasionally, there was a sharp crack as a piece of slate or something else incombustible shot out, burning a hole in the carpet or making the family pet dog suddenly move away. The coal fire provided heat to the room, often heated the water through a back boiler, and acted as a place where the odd piece of rubbish was consumed. But in these enlightened days, open coal fires are rare and discouraged. 

Jesus told the Thyatiraean church that His “eyes are like blazing fire”. So we can see eyes that are alive, with a constantly-changing depth, full of images that vary from a roaring inferno to dull redness. A perpetual fire that is never extinguished. A fire that exposes and consumes. A fire that spits out all that is unwanted. A fire that warms and gives life. The eyes of Jesus perceive all that is within His followers, seeing into their hearts with a penetration that knows no limits. A fire with the promise that one day those who have rejected Him will see through His eyes of fire directly into another fire, that never goes out.

Jesus also told the “angel of the church in Thyatira” that His “feet are like burnished bronze”. Burnished is another word for polished or refined. Bronze that had been purified in the fire, bringing a perfection befitting to the Son of God. A purity that is able to tread on all that is impure, bringing light into darkness. A metal alloy denoting strength and permanence, never to wear out. Never to disappear. 

To today’s pilgrim, the eyes of blazing fire and the feet of burnished bronze remind us that Jesus is real. That Jesus is eternal with an authority that has been with Him since before the creation of the world and will still be with Him when this world is replaced by the new Heaven and earth. That Jesus has a depth and presence not far from each one of us – we only have to reach out and touch Him. That there is a side to Jesus that will one day bring justice to this sinful world.

Dear Lord Jesus. We thank You that we see in Your blazing eyes a love and compassion beyond measure. We are so blessed by your presence in our lives. Amen.

A White Stone

Posted on by korgrocker

“Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. To everyone who is victorious I will give some of the manna that has been hidden away in heaven. And I will give to each one a white stone, and on the stone will be engraved a new name that no one understands except the one who receives it.”
Revelation‬ ‭2:17‬ ‭NLT

Jesus finishes His message to the Pergamum church with the non-negotiable instruction that we “must listen to the Spirit”. Looking at the converse, that means the Pergamums, at times, failed to listen to what God was saying to them. The same applies to modern churchgoers today, I’m sure. And because we don’t hear Him, we are unable to follow His instructions. I always think of God’s faithful servant in Damascus, Ananias. He heard the gentle whisper of the Holy Spirit and listened to what God was saying about a man called Saul, who had been blinded by an encounter with Jesus on the Damascus Road. Ananias had an always-on connection with God. He was ready to listen to the Holy Spirit and was able to discern what He was saying, to the extent that he was confident enough to put into practice what to some would have been a very unpopular request. 

To the pilgrim today we should carefully note the sequence. Firstly, we must have “ears to hear”. This means we must have a connection with God, with spiritual ears trained and ready to hear when God speaks. Secondly, we must “listen to the Spirit”. It is not enough to hear Him when He speaks. We must “listen”. This means we must concentrate on what God is saying, making sure we are hearing right. How many times has my wife spoken to me only to find I haven’t been listening? Confession time? Thirdly, having heard, having listened, we must make sure we “understand what He is saying”. This means we must convert what we hear into the thoughts and actions that God intends.

Moving on, we have a reference to “manna”. Manna was the food supplied by God to sustain the Israelite nation during their journey between Egypt and the promised land. We can read all about it in Exodus 16. The name “manna” is a Hebrew word meaning “What is it?”. But, as a food, it was unique and amazing. It was a miracle food containing all the nutrients required by a human being. And the miraculous extended to the way it was supplied. Just enough. Just for the day ahead. Much too can be written about the spiritual meaning of manna, the bread from Heaven. Jesus said that the victorious would have access to manna. The victorious are those who have overcome sin, who have stayed the course, who have reached their Heavenly goal. And, to me, the manna hidden away for the victorious in Heaven will have all that is needed for a life in God’s presence.

Something else awaiting the victorious in Heaven is a white stone. Apparently, in the culture of the time, white stones were used as a sort of ID, or calling card. But more than that, the white stones had a relational significance, of friendship and commitment. And to me, quite simply, Jesus was saying that He was giving us each a token of His love, but in a very special way. You see, He will give each one of us a special name that only we know. And notice that our unique names will be engraved on the stone. Not just written with a pen, with ink that will wash or wear off in time. Engraved means that it will be there for eternity.

Sometimes, married couples or others in close friendships will have an intimate name they use for each other. But how much more amazing to have our own individual relationships with Jesus. Relationships so special that each one of us uniquely and individually has their own new name. Bringing it home to me personally, I try and imagine what it must be like to hear Jesus calling my new name. A name only Him and I know. With a love so deep that it can’t be measured. With His presence so close that He is touching me. What else can I do than fall on my knees before Him in gratitude?

Dear Lord Jesus. With a deeply grateful heart I worship You today. The wonderful God who came to this world to show me the way into Your presence. Into a life of intimacy with You. Thank You. Amen.

Complaints

Posted on by korgrocker

“But I have a few complaints against you. You tolerate some among you whose teaching is like that of Balaam, who showed Balak how to trip up the people of Israel. He taught them to sin by eating food offered to idols and by committing sexual sin. In a similar way, you have some Nicolaitans among you who follow the same teaching. Repent of your sin, or I will come to you suddenly and fight against them with the sword of my mouth.”
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭2:14-16‬ ‭NLT

The story of Balaam and Balak can be found in Numbers 22-24. It’s a fascinating read, involving angels with swords and a talking donkey. Balak, of Moabite royalty, wanted Balaam to curse the oncoming Israelite nation because he was concerned that they would “…devour everything in sight, like an ox devours grass in the field!” He involved the Midianites, and together they asked a man called Balaam to curse the Israelites, but instead he ended up blessing them, delivering the message God told him to say. The story concludes with Balaam cursing the surrounding nations after blessing the Israelites. Balaam wasn’t a Godly man, because the Scriptures record that he was involved in divination, a practice that carried the death penalty for the Jews. He was also a Gentile. However, that did not stop God using him to deliver His message. In several places in the Bible we see that if necessary, God will use influential people in Godless nations to carry out His plans. 

At the start of Numbers 25 we see that the Israelite men were starting to cohabit with Moabite women, even getting involved in their Baal worship. And as a result they were guilty of the sins in the complaint we read about in today’s Scripture, they sinned, “by eating food offered to idols and by committing sexual sin”. Though we cannot find a direct Scriptural reference to Balaam teaching the Israelites how to sin, the theological consensus seems to be that Balaam advised Balak of a more devious response and solution – get them involved in the sinful practices of the Moabites and Midianites so that God will punish them. And in Numbers 25 the story of their sin and its consequences played out to a sad conclusion.

After referring to the story of Balaam, John continued in today’s verse, by exposing the Nicolaitans amongst them. They too followed the same practices of eating food offered to idols and by committing sexual sin. As we found earlier, the Ephesian church had also been infiltrated by adherents of this sect. 

Jesus’ response to those engaging in these sinful practices was a warning. He said that He would come to fight them with “the sword of [His] mouth”. And this fight would happen suddenly. Back in the wayward Israelites’ day, when their sin with the Moabites had been uncovered, the solution was physical, with God sending a plague which only stopped with a gruesome ending – one of the ringleaders and his foreign partner were skewered by a spear. But “the sword of [His] mouth” attack against the Pergamums was not to be through some physical punishment. It was through God’s Word, the Scriptures, bringing repentance from sin. The Old Testament remedy was a physical death. The New Testament solution would end up a spiritual death. But in both cases, and in the context of eternity, the outcome was the same. Eternal death.

Back to our usual question – how do these verses help the 21st Century pilgrim? One lesson is that we pilgrims must diligently maintain the purity of our faith. Sin has a habit of creeping up on us, nibbling away at the margins, disguised as something minor or inoffensive, something easily rationalised away. Remember – our adversary the devil is extremely good at finding our weak spots. In the garden of Eden, the serpent found a chink in Eve’s armour, – “Did God really say…” (Genesis 3:1). And followed it with a plausible, subtle, and clever restatement of God’s instructions. 

Another lesson is that the worldly practices around us, and as portrayed on films and television, can numb our spiritual discernment. The constant bombardment from devil-backed lobby groups, from advertising, from conversations with people who aren’t Christians, will potentially dull our senses and, particularly when we’re tired, will lead to sin. Each day we must put on our Ephesians 6 armour, and take up the sword, God’s Word. By so doing we can be effective witnesses, counter-culturally standing as beacons of hope in a dying world. And if we have weak spots that the enemy will penetrate, we must avoid the circumstances that can give him an opening. 

A common tactic of the enemy is to revive our embarrassing memories. He will remind us that because we once did something bad, we are no good and not suitable to be a child of God. But we must tell him that we have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus. We are new creations. No more defined by our past, but instead defined by our future. In Hebrews 12:1, we read, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us”. The Apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 3:13b-14, “… I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us”.

The Pergamums earned a rebuke from Jesus because they allowed worldly customs and idolatry to prevail in their lives and in their church. Let us not fall into the same trap.

Dear Jesus. We thank You that You love us too much to allow us to wallow in customs that You disapprove of. We pray David’s prayer from Psalm 139 today, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends You, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” Amen.

The Martyr

Posted on by korgrocker

“I know that you live in the city where Satan has his throne, yet you have remained loyal to Me. You refused to deny Me even when Antipas, My faithful witness, was martyred among you there in Satan’s city.”
Revelation‬ ‭2:13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Pergamum, or Pergamon, or Pergamos, depending on which history book or Bible version we read, was the Northernmost city of the seven cities mentioned in Revelation 2 and 3. it was an important city with life spanning hundreds of years and several rulers. Many ruins remain today. But the reference to satan is interesting. A huge, throne-shaped structure was removed from the Acropolis in Pergamon in the nineteenth century and reassembled in a museum in Germany. And it was the shape and size of this, together with the association with Greek gods, that led to its name as the Throne of Satan. 

Pergamum must have been a difficult place to be a Christian in, steeped as it was in the worship of false gods, and where the counter-cultural believer and follower of Christ would have been severely persecuted. And that is what seems to have happened, with the martyrdom of a man called Antipas. However, in spite of the persecution, the congregation in Pergamum remained loyal to their faith. We don’t know how many church members there were, but subsequent verses in this section of Revelation 2 seem to indicate that it might have been at least a medium-sized fellowship of believers.

So the usual question – is there any relevance in this verse for Christian pilgrims today? I think there is. Loyalty to our faith is an important attribute of the followers of Christ, though loyalty to anything today in our Western societies is not exactly a popular trait. But a refusal to deny Christ, even when one of the followers in Pergamum was martyred, indicated how strong their loyalty was. So how loyal are we? First and foremost is our loyalty to God. Sadly, I know Christians who, when going through hard times, facing into health, family or financial issues, and finding that their prayers are not answered in the way they would like, take time out from their faith. They stop reading the Bible, and praying. They stop attending church services. They cut themselves off from their church friends, refusing to answer calls, ignoring social media posts, or the door when visited. But then after a time they will reappear, as though nothing has happened. I always think it strange that some people, when in times of greatest need, seem to turn away from God. A conditional loyalty isn’t an option in the Kingdom of God.

There is also our loyalty to our church leaders. They do a difficult job, often for little reward. But a loyal congregant gladdens their hearts. With loyal followers, they can build Jesus’ church, developing the vision God has given them. And we mustn’t forget our loyalty to each other. There is nothing more encouraging than being part of a church full of loyal believers.

When the going gets tough, loyalty is an essential quality. That moment when we can honestly say to God that no matter what is happening, or is about to happen, we will never desert Him. If faced with the dilemma Antipas was facing, can we stand firm, loyal to our faith? I believe God gave him the strength he needed and eased him into his new life in Heaven. God is always with us in our hours of need.

Dear God. We thank You for Your faithfulness to us. You are always watching over us 24/7. Please grant us the grace and courage to stand firm in difficult times. Amen.

Two-Edged Sword

Posted on by korgrocker

“Write this letter to the angel of the church in Pergamum. This is the message from the One with the sharp two-edged sword”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭2:12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

In his vision, the old Apostle John moves on to write down Jesus’ message to the church at Pergamum. This was a famous and illustrious city spanning Greek and Roman periods in history, and extensive ruins still exist. However, there is no longer a church there. But in the first century, it contained a Christian congregation, apparently active and thriving, but with a few problems that Jesus pointed out to them. More to come on that.

Again this message was directed to an angel. This time the “angel of the church in Pergamum”, probably a reference to both the church leaders and the whole church membership. But what is the significance of “the One with the sharp two-edged sword”? In the previous chapter, John received a vision of the Son of Man. He was standing in the middle of seven lampstands, and a sharp two-edged sword came from His mouth. We receive a good description of what the meaning of this sword is from Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires“. The “sharpest two-edged sword” is indeed a powerful weapon but the writer to the Hebrews informed them that the Word of God is even sharper. Imagine the most fearsome and devastating weapon available to our armies today and then realise that the Word of God is still even more powerful. It fact it is even more powerful than any man-made device, for one simple reason. Any earthly weapon can indeed kill a human being, bringing on their physical death, but the Word of God can bring condemnation, judgement and eternal death for the same human being, in his or her life after their physical death. But, uniquely amongst weapons of destruction, it can also bring life, everlasting life for those who obey its precepts. That is why the “sharp two-edged sword” is so powerful. The Word of God is His legacy, His power, His manual for a life to be lived His way, and all encapsulated in a book always accessible to His followers everywhere. No wonder that pariah and totalitarian states want the Bible banned – they are only too aware of its power. In fact, it is so powerful that it has the capability to bring down their evil regimes.

If a pilgrim was ever asked what he should take in his back pack, one of the most important items has to be his Bible. In our pilgrimage through life we must have it. We will not reach our Heavenly goal without it. And one day we will discover that the truths contained within the Book will be transformed into glory for our wonderful God and Father.

Dear Lord God. We thank Your word, the Bible. Please help us to never neglect its reading. May its truths indeed penetrate to our very “innermost thoughts and desires”, helping us to live our lives Your way. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Second Death

Posted on by korgrocker

“Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. Whoever is victorious will not be harmed by the second death.”
Revelation‬ ‭2:11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

As we read earlier in this chapter, John reminds us of the importance of listening to the Holy Spirit. Not just listening but understanding. Sometimes we will hear what someone says to us, but the mental filters that we possess will process what we hear into something with a meaning totally different to what the speaker intended. Misunderstandings can result. A classical example was in 1799, when 1200 Turkish prisoners were shot through a misunderstanding. Napoleon was asked what they should do with the prisoners, but at the end of a coughing fit he uttered the words “Ma sacrée toux,” meaning “My cursed cough”. Unfortunately for the prisoners, Napoleon’s words were heard as “Massacrez tous” meaning “kill them all”. A historical situation that has nothing to do with what Jesus was saying to the churches, but it makes the point. A more humorous example was anecdotally circulating after one of the world wars, when the radio message “Send reinforcements, we’re going to advance” was heard “Send three and fourpence, we’re going to a dance”. But more seriously, we have a duty to carefully listen to what God is saying to us and understanding the meaning behind what He says. And if we’re not sure about anything, we can check the message against God’s Word, the Bible, through prayer, and with other Christians who we trust. Sadly, there have been many who have heard the Word, interpreting it according to their “filters”, but not understanding what it meant spiritually, going off into error as a consequence.

John’s writings continue with the sentence, “Whoever is victorious will not be harmed by the second death”. So what is this second death? I thought we could only die once. The phrase “the second death” only occurs in the Book of Revelation. The only explanation must refer to the possibility that after a physical death, there is another potential death awaiting us – the lake of fire. Later on in Revelation we read that all those whose names are not written in the Book of Life will end up there. A thought that should strike fear into anyone, I think we all agree. But Jesus made sure that His followers would not be frightened by such an event, because those who are overcomers, the victorious, will be safe. A quote from a book I read recently, “There is a vast difference between the final destination of those who know Christ and those who do not”.

To sum up this verse, the reality for us pilgrims is that as we keep close to our wonderful Heavenly Father, and His Son, Jesus, we have nothing to fear about what lies beyond the grave. In fact, as we read earlier, there is a crown of life awaiting us. Amazing! Surely worth discomfort today for wonder tomorrow. As is often said today, “No gain without pain”. That principle applies to the spiritual as well as the physical.

Dear Lord, we thank You for Your Word, and the encouragement You provide us for our journey towards Heaven. We need not fear the second death because You are with us. Amen.

Suffering

Posted on by korgrocker

“Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you. You will suffer for ten days. But if you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life.”
Revelation‬ ‭2:10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The Smyrnaean church was really experiencing some hard times. Jesus could see what was coming in their lives and warned them, through John, that the persecution and tribulation would be intense. So intense in fact, that some of those in the Smyrnaean church would face death. Others would be imprisoned. And all because they believed the Truth, God Himself. Of course, all this suffering would strike fear into even the strongest, and most committed, men and women amongst them. So Jesus’ message starts once again with “Don’t be afraid“. Our wonderful Lord fully realised that the intersection between the natural and the spiritual will sometimes induce fear amongst human beings. I’m reminded of the first thing Jesus said to the disciples when He was walking on the sea of Galilee. In Mark 6:50 we read, “They were all terrified when they saw him. But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage! I am here! ”. I’m sure the Smyrnaeans were themselves just as terrified, if not more, because some of them would be facing death. But the Lord loved these people and had a message for them that would have strengthened them through their persecution. He told them that it would only be for ten days.

For some, the idea of being tested for our faith is rather daunting. Someone once asked the question, “If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be sufficient evidence to convict you”? Beyond all reasonable doubt? But why would God allow us to be tested in the first place? Perhaps there are times when we go through the motions of being a Christian, but deep down we have lost our way. Our faith is perhaps weakening, or may even have reduced to a level of non-existence. In the past two years, Christians have been quite severely tested, at least here in the UK. Tested by the Covid lock downs that have shut our churches, and forcing us to depart our comfort zones and grapple with new technology, such as Zoom and YouTube. Removing from us the option of seeing our friends in person, and warming a pew on a Sunday morning. We may not have been through the physical pain and suffering the Smyrnaeans experienced, but the outcome may have been the same. When us Christian pilgrims are faced with the reality that there is a cost to our faith, some will decide that the price is not worth paying. And consequently they will disappear from the spiritual radar and fall away from the faith. In my locality, some Churches of Scotland are having to close because the congregations are no longer numerically viable. One of the reasons is that the numbers of attenders hasn’t recovered to the pre-Covid levels. Thankfully, other churches are thriving, the stronger for the testing experience.

For the faithful perseverers, there is a “crown of life”. It is there stored in a safe place. We each have one lined up for us. Our names are written on them. They are precious and far more valuable than any amount of gold and precious jewels would be. James 1:15 picks up the theme as well, “God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him“. 

So what does a “crown of life” look like? Here are a few thoughts. The crown imparts life, as we read in our verse today. Also it is a crown of glory (1 Peter 5:4), a crown of righteousness, (2 Timothy 4:8). It is imperishable and will never wear out (1 Corinthians 9:25). It is a crown of joy (Philippians 4:1). And it is the prize for staying true to our calling (Philippians 3:14). I can’t wait to get mine, and I know it will be a perfect fit. And there’s one just for you, my reader, today. If …

Dear Lord. We thank You for Your encouragement, always there for the asking when we go through a time of tribulation. I pray for the strength to stand firm in my faith day by day. Amen.

Blasphemy

Posted on by korgrocker

““I know about your suffering and your poverty—but you are rich! I know the blasphemy of those opposing you. They say they are Jews, but they are not, because their synagogue belongs to Satan.
Revelation‬ ‭2:9‬ ‭NLT

How do we reconcile being poor and being rich at the same time? But John was writing about two different domains – the natural and the spiritual. Just from this short verse, we can glean a picture of a church of faithful Christian people who were suffering persecution that was affecting their daily lives. I envisage a shop-keeper, a member of the church, whose business was suffering because people were avoiding him because of his faith. Perhaps there was a labourer who couldn’t find work because he was blacklisted. But I’m sure it wasn’t just their employment that was being affected. A wife and mother abused in the street as she went about her daily business. Low level anti-social behaviour directed at their properties. The children wouldn’t have escaped the persecution either. And, worse, the attacks were making them poor, financially and socially. Sadly, and depressingly, we see the same sort of persecution directed at Christians today in various parts of the world. Even here in the UK we have seen Christian businesses and individuals targeted and persecuted because they refuse to bend the knee to minority groups who are trying to force their ideologies onto the society around them.

But John commended and encouraged them because they were rich. Spiritually rich. Benefitting from Heavenly resources made available to them without limit. The Smyrnaeans knew that through their relationship with God, through their faith, through their perseverance, they were part of something far bigger and better. They knew that there were hassles to overcome before they would find themselves in a place of comfort and safety, where their persecutors would be unable to reach them anymore. 

Through John, Jesus had some stern words for the Smyrnaean persecutors, the Jews from the local synagogue. He called them blasphemers. This is a very serious charge because it involves and implies a disrespectful attitude against God Himself. Here in Western society, we have become desensitised to the use of phrases and language that used the names for God as expletives. I used to work with a lady who was a self-confessed atheist but who frequently used the phrase “Oh my God” in her conversations. One day I pointed out to her that for someone who didn’t believe in God, she called on His name a lot. I never heard her use that expression again. Sadly, though, this phrase has become ubiquitous in our society, a ploy of the enemy to reduce the name of God down to the conversational gutter. Blasphemy. 

Nothing is hidden from Jesus. He knew where the source of the blasphemers was. And He referred to them as “a synagogue [that] belongs to satan”. Strong words indeed. Enough to send a chill of fear down the spines of God-fearing people. That our enemy, the devil, had infiltrated into that very bastion of Jewishness, a synagogue, was a sad reflection on their spiritual state. It would never happen in our churches today. Or would it? In the early days of the Charismatic revival I experienced at first hand the animosity of other church attenders who accused those experiencing and entering into the new move of the Holy Spirit, of demonic activities. Was it blasphemy? I wouldn’t like to judge anyone, but we need to be careful that we don’t associate any move of God with an activity of the devil. Advice obviously not followed by the Jewish synagogue in Smyrna.

So what do us pilgrims make of this verse? It’s a warning that the Christian faith is counter-cultural and at times we will be persecuted for maintaining the purity of the Word and our faith. Jesus warned us that living in the “world”, the atheistic societies in which we live, will not be easy for God-followers. So, forewarned, we keep our eyes fixed on our Heavenly goal, just over the horizon, but coming closer every day. Each day, we try and bring something of Heaven into our lives and the lives of those around us. We are “salt and light” in our families and communities, standing in the gap, revealing God to a God-less world. And in the process, being aware that although we may end up in suffering and poverty, we are rich in Him who loves us.

Dear Father, thank You for being with us in our every day lives. Encouraging us. Blessing us. Equipping us. Loving us. Leading us. Enriching us. We praise and thank You today. Amen. 

The Once Dead

Posted on by korgrocker

“Write this letter to the angel of the church in Smyrna. This is the message from the One who is the First and the Last, who was dead but is now alive”
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭2:8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Having finished relaying Jesus’ message to the Ephesian church, the Apostle John now writes to the church located at another town, Smyrna, which was a port on the coast of what is now Western Turkey. It was a city, just across the sea from the Island of Patmos, where John was exiled. Today, the ruins are being researched – the ancient Smyrna is no more. Again, we don’t know what happened to the church there, but at the time John wrote his Revelation we can assume that it was a thriving fellowship of early Christians.

Again, John is addressing the “angel of the church”. Presumably a leader, or the leadership at the church. Perhaps even the very culture, or soul, of this fellowship of believers. And John once again emphasises that the message is coming from Jesus Himself, “the First and the Last”. Just to emphasise the credentials of our Lord, he finishes with “who was dead but is now alive”. 

These last 7 words are earth-shattering in their portent. Not only did the Creator of the universe, our Father God, send His Son, Jesus, to this sad and sorry planet, but He did it to fulfil a plan that would involve His painful death on a Roman cross. A plan that would in some inexplicable way enable mankind at long last to approach their Heavenly Father without all the carry-on of animal sacrifices and priestly rituals. A plan that would enable mankind to receive forgiveness for their sins directly, and to receive the righteousness that God Himself had. No wonder that there was darkness in the land while Jesus was dying. No wonder the temple curtain was torn in two. And we read that when Jesus died, significant physical events, earthquakes, rocks splitting and tombs opening up, all took place. I’m sure the whole of Heaven was looking on, wondering and sad. And the devil was having a party, sincerely believing that he had engineered the destruction of God’s Son. 

But the last word in this verse changed everything. On the third day after His death, the One who was dead, laid cold and still, in a tomb, suddenly came alive. In Matthew we read that there was another earthquake, and an angel appeared, rolling away the stone. The battle-hardened Roman guards shook with fear and fainted. And the angel uttered those words that have echoed and reverberated through the years and centuries ever since, “He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead” (Matthew 28:6). How can we ever imagine the impact that that had throughout the Heavens. The party is still going on in Heaven, because the One “who was dead … is now alive”. The devil defeated. And a way planned out for us pilgrims to join our elder brother Jesus when we cross the Great Divide. What else can we do, like John, than fall to our knees with grateful praise and worship.

Dear Lord. We are deeply grateful for all You have done. Words cannot express how we feel. One day we will have the opportunity to praise and worship You forever. Amen.

Tree of Life

Posted on by korgrocker

“Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. To everyone who is victorious I will give fruit from the tree of life in the paradise of God.”
Revelation 2:7 NLT

Jesus continued to remind us, through John, that we are in a battle, through which we must emerge “victorious“. If we don’t then we are going to miss out on something. Access to the “fruit from the tree of life” has a prerequisite, which is that we must first overcome the obstacles that otherwise mask it from our view. Imagine that in front of us is a gate, through which we must enter to access a wonderful place on the other side. Or perhaps we have to gain entry to find particularly valuable treasure. But like a modern computer game, there are hazards, and assailants, that have to be dealt with, before we can reach the gate and open it to pass through. Psalm 24:3-4 reads, “Who may climb the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? Only those whose hands and hearts are pure, who do not worship idols and never tell lies“. Ephesians 6:12 says, “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places”. 

Through the power of the Holy Spirit and the revelation of the Word of God, we have all the resources necessary to be “victorious”. We are fighting against unseen foes, and, mostly, the battleground is located in our minds. In 2 Corinthians 2:4-5 we read, “We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ”. 

So, what does being “victorious” look like? And how do we know that our victory has been achieved? Jesus has already overcome the enemy. He did that at Calvary and the devil is a defeated foe. We read in Colossians 2:3-5, “You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He cancelled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross”. We are victorious because our sins have been forgiven. So we ensure our place in Jesus’ victory parade by staying close to the Cross, and to our wonderful Saviour. And we do so by living a life of faith. A faith we can read about in Hebrews 11. A faith that underpins our lives day by day. With the assistance of the Holy Spirit, we have all the spiritual resources we need to “knock down the strongholds” that occupy our minds and block our ways to the “tree of life”. The Apostle Paul provided a helpful picture of the spiritual armour we can access, in Ephesians 6.

As Christian pilgrims we are on a journey passing through the world around us. But our victory can be assured by keeping apart from the ways and customs of the world, those that are incompatible with our lives of faith. We are in the world but not of it. So we avoid temptation. We turn our back on anything that will detract from our life of faith. And we set our minds on the things of Heaven, looking forward to the day when we will pass the Great Divide to join God there. We are counter-cultural soldiers for Christ, avoiding the road to hell.

What is the significance of this fruit from the tree of life? It sustained Adam and Eve before the fall in the Garden of Eden, and one day it will sustain us. In a sense we are living between the two occasions when the tree of life was mentioned in the Bible. It first appeared in Genesis and lastly appears in Revelations. The first manifestation of this tree is no longer available to us, but one day we will have access to it because it has been transplanted to our new home, in Paradise. A fruit put there by God, accessible for our future life with Him in Heaven. A fruit for the eating, part of our new life one day in God’s presence.

Dear Lord God. There are so many things to consider in our life-journey. But I thank You today that we don’t journey alone, for You are always with us. Amen.