Jump Start # 581

Revelation 1:11 “Write in a book what you see, and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.”

The seven churches of Asia were the recipients of the powerful message called the Revelation of Jesus Christ. Chapters two and three addresses specific messages to each of these churches. There are many great and profound lessons to be found there. We want to look at some of those. This will not be a concentrated detailed examination of these passages, that’s not the purpose of our Jump Starts. There are things we can gather that will help Jump Start our faith.

One of the initial thoughts is what are we to make of these seven churches? Do they represent something? Some have thought that they illustrate either periods of church history or cycles that churches go through. Both thoughts make a person stuff more things into the passage than what is there. A person must remember what it would have been like to be a member at one of those seven churches and to have received this letter. They did not know about church history—it had not been developed yet. And the cycle theory leaves one depressed if it were true. Ephesus, the first, begins with losing their first love and Laodicea, the last, ends with making the Lord sick. If this is the cycle all churches go through, we might as well quit.

These were real historical places and real churches. We read about some of these churches in Acts. The times the book of Revelation was written was hard. It was hard being a Christian. The government of Rome was squeezing the church and trying to destroy it.

Revelation was written to these scared brethren. It was a message of hope, encouragement and victory. Overcome is one of the key words in this book.

Those who have studied the specifics written to these seven churches, chapters two and three, recognize some common patterns to all the letters. Jesus is identified in a glorious manner. The letters are addressed to the angel of the church. Good is praised. Things that are wrong are exposed and a plea to repent and return is made. An image of Heaven is revealed.

Two thoughts about what is written to these seven churches:

1. God knows what is going on. The expression, “I know,” is used each time when these churches are addressed. God knows. Sometimes God seems to know what the people do not know. Laodicea thought that they needed nothing. God knew better. Sardis had a great reputation. God knew that they were dead. This is something for us to think about. Sometimes a person may get discouraged because of what is going on at church. Things may be stale, or maybe some are being neglected and it’s easy to think, no one knows about these things. God does. He always does. He knows. This is why prayer is so powerful. This is why prayer can open doors and bring hope. We pray to a God who knows.

2. God is interested in faithfulness to Him. Faith has always been something that God has wanted. Sometimes we get our order out of order and spend so much time on things that really do not matter much to God. For instance, in this letter to the seven churches, you will not find God concerned about church buildings, budgets, parking lots, or the hiring of preachers. Those things sure seem to occupy so much attention these days. What God was interested in was the pure devotion and commitment to Him. We worry more about the roof on the church building than the faith of the folks sitting in the pews.  More money is spent on keeping the place up to date than it is in keeping the member’s faith alive.

This is not to say that the place we worship in ought to be neglected and look like a dump. Not at all. But it’s easy to think a fine building means a fine church. The two are not the same.  In a hundred years what will matter is not how new the carpet was in the church house, but how alive the faith was in the members. Strong faith leads to strong families and strong churches. It is our faith that will lead us to walk with the Lord, talk to our friends about Jesus and to overcome the worst of things that Satan might throw at us. Faith is the difference. Faith is what needs to be nurtured and grown. The faith of our young people will help them to make the best choices. The faith of our men will lead to more leaders. The faith of all of us will make an impact in the community.

So, one of the best things I can do for my marriage, my family, and the church I attend, is to get stronger in the Lord. Build my faith is the key. Faith comes through a connection to the word of God (Romans 10:17).  Know the book. Look carefully into the book. Think about it. Talk about it. Share it. Wear your Bible out. Underline verses. Circle words. Write notes in the margins. Get the big picture. See the message. God loves you. Jesus is the Lord. Walk by faith. Pray at all times. Seek the things above. Be engaged in good deeds. Be obedient. Become…become like Jesus!

God knows…God is interested in your faith—that’s what matters.

Roger