For Crying Out Loud (01-25-07)

In the book of Revelation chapters 2 and 3 are what they call a double fulfilling prophecy. One in that it speaks to actual churches and two that each church symbolizes or represents an age of the church. Emphasis being the early church full of eyewitnesses. This church died off about 70 A.D. and the next stage of history was to unfold. Smyrna was the persecuted church, which no longer had first hand knowledge but had to believe the reports. I want to discuss this church because they suffered as we are. Perhaps we can gain some strength from their example. The scripture said Christ was perfected through suffering. How much more ourselves? Rome was on decline and strange new leaders as Nero and Caligula were in charge. Christians became the scapegoats to much of their insanity. Now weakened by the loss of the apostles you would think this church would diminish under the pressure. Historically it grew at a rapid rate, alarming to the enemy. Smyrna means to have the joy wrung out of you. Today at my wife’s visit I had this same sense. You begin to ask God questions like how long, when, can’t you save, don’t you see or hear me? Like a ligament that must be stretched by a constant pressure I am seeking the recoil of relief and yet it never comes. I reason with God that even He as Lord of the Sabbath took His rest. To now avail, my suffering continues. If you find yourself here with me try and find the comfort I did in looking at Smyrna. Christians were sport for lions, gladiators, used as streetlamp torches etc. It was hard times multiplied. Yet they grew! Some of the best debate came during this time and many heresies were exposed. Christ honored them in His text by offering no derogatory comments concerning them. This is not true of the others except Philadelphia in smaller degree. I want to be known as a follower of Christ growing into no derogatory critique. What I don’t want is Smyrna. Well I have it and I have it big. Suffering is on all fronts without relief and my hands and my prayers appear useless. This is the ripe environment that threatens my trust or calls me to duplicate history and grow into sound doctrine while pleasing my Lord. What will you do? Is Smyrna a sufficient witness for you? It is for me. Though my tears flow, my pain continues unabated, and my joy gets wrung out yet will I praise Him. Smyrna was not the great church in human accomplishment but supreme in the spirit. I’m not great and maybe you’re not but as their testimony can encourage 2000 years later just maybe God can use us. Behind all my suffering this sole thought makes me smile. May God Bless us all as He did Smyrna. AMEN!