Faith and Hope
Revelation 2:12-13, 18-19
To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword. I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives.
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. I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.
The early chapter of the book of Revelation reveals what kind of church that Jesus is looking for. There’s nothing said about programme, music, worship style, times of their meetings, or what people wear when they get together.
The key qualities that Jesus looks for in His church and His people are faithfulness and loyalty.
- The church at Pergamum is commended for “staying true to his name” (2:13)
- In Pergamum, Antipas was Christ’s “faithful witness” (2:13)
- The Thyatiran believers have “persevered” an attitude of faithfulness (2:19)
- The call to the Thyatirans is to steadfast faithfulness “Hold on to what you have until I come” (2:25) and “Do my will to the end” (2:26)
Jesus is faithful - He speaks as the One who is “Faithful and true” (Rev 3:14)
Our faithfulness is a joyful response to Christ’s faithfulness
Why do we love? – because he loved us first (1 John 4:19)
Why do we forgive – because he is faithful and just in forgiving us (1 John 1:9)
As we think about the legacy we create, may faithfulness be at the heart of it.
When we hear the word legacy, perhaps our minds immediately think of an inheritance, a bequest, something left to somebody in a will. And that’s obviously a correct use of the word. But the word has much broader meaning.
Legacy is not just about money, it’s about impact, an impression made.
In his letter to a young Pastor called Timothy, Paul told him to live life as an example…the Greek word used there is tupos, stamp an impression in wax…leave a lingering mark…
We all leave a legacy, whether we choose to or not. Some lives leave a mark, others leave a stain….
And legacy is not just about what we leave when we’re old, or when we die, and it’s not just about a life - it can be a moment, an action, a word spoken that leaves a lingering mark.
J.R. Miller: There have been meetings of only a moment which have left impressions for life, for eternity. No one can understand that mysterious thing we call influence . . . yet . . . every one of us continually exerts influence, either to heal, to bless, to leave marks of beauty; or to wound, to hurt, to poison, to stain other lives..’
In 2023, may the Christ who is faithful and true find us to be just like Him.
God bless you, and a happy new year!