Revelation 2:7 (7) He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God. Revelation 2:11 (11) He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death. Revelation 2:17 (17) He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it. Revelation 2:26 (26) And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations— Revelation 3:5 (5) He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. Revelation 3:12 (12) He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name. Revelation 3:21 (21) To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. New King James Version We can see what most concerns Christ—what is most important to Him—at the end, when the pressures will be more intense than they have ever been in the history of man, when Satan is lining up all of his forces, all of his armies, all of his weaponry. The Devil will mount a persecution against Gods people to such an extent that the whole earth will be thrown into convulsions, the likes of which this world has never seen! Christ, like any good leader who sees what is coming, will take steps to prepare His people. He will focus their attention on what is most important to survive and grow during that period. This is why He talks about what He does to the churches in the messages in Revelation 2 and 3. The word translated as overcomes can just as easily and correctly be—and is perhaps better—translated conquers. We are involved in a war against Satan and his demons, against a world he designed and built through men, and against ourselves, who carry with us the self-centered nature, habits, and attitudes of Satan and his system. Thus, Christs concern for us as we approach the end is whether we are carrying through in the warfare, continuing in well doing, and enduring to the end, because Satan is bringing about every pressure to make us surrender. Loyalty is not a quality that we Americans and Canadians are endowed with to any great degree. Our cultures tend to stress individuality—doing our own thing. This lack of loyalty in America and Canada perhaps shows more clearly in divorce and infidelity than anywhere else. Loyaltys synonym is faithful. It means faithful in allegiance to ones lawful sovereign; to be faithful to a private person to whom fidelity is due; or faithful to a cause. It means to be steadfast in affection, to adhere to the performance of duty, to be conscientious, to give firm resistance to any temptation to desert or betray. Can we see what the works are Christ is so concerned about? This is why every message says, I know your works! (Revelation 2:2, 9, 13, 19; 3:1, 8, 15). He does not say, I know your profession or I know your desires. Neither does He say, I know your sincerity or I know your wishes. He says, I know your works! Why? Because works prove what a person is doing with his knowledge, time, and energies. Titus 1:16 says, They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified. Notice that they profess to know God. Christ says, I see what you are doing. I know your works. Why are works so important? They prove where our heart is! They prove our loyalty! They prove whether we are conscientious and faithful. They prove whether there is fidelity to Jesus Christ—whether we are steadfast in our affection for the One we are going to marry. Many believe that we do not have to qualify for the Kingdom of God. It is true that works cannot justify us; they cannot wipe out our sins. However, it does not follow that, because they cannot save us, they are of no importance. Recall that James uses Abraham, the father of the faithful—the father of the loyal, the conscientious—as the illustration that faith without works is dead! Living faith works! Jesus says, I know your works! Revelation 2 and 3 are an examination of our works because Christ wants to see whether we believe Him! Living faith exhibits itself in works! It is a test of our faith. If we are faithful, we will be working: overcoming Satan, the world, and our self-centeredness. That is what works accomplish. — John W. Ritenbaugh
Posted on: Sat, 24 Jan 2015 01:36:49 +0000
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