Be Faithful Unto Death (Rev. 2:8-11)
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Alexander the Great (356-323 BC) happened to run away, being defeated in a battle, All of his soldiers ran away before him to save their lives. Yet, there was one soldier beside him. He let him lead a horse on whose saddle a heavy box was placing. The soldier showed his loyalty to the end by taking a good care of the horse and the heavy box on it.
Later, Alexander regained his power and won the great victory in the war. And he called the faithful soldier. Alexander commanded him to come closer and to open the box that he had carried. In the box, there were lumps of gold. The king gave the whole box to the soldier in reward for his faithfulness.
In a novel, 「Silence」 written by a Japanese novelist, Shusaku Endo, there is an inspirational story of a Portuguese Catholic priest, Francisco Garrpe. Although Japanese officials kept commanding him to apostatize, he rejected their enforcement. He did not deny Jesus Christ. He was tied on the post at the shore of the sea where the tide kept coming in. Garrpe was singing and praying to God even until the water sank him to the neck. Finally the head of Garrpe was lost in the sea and the voice was still. He was faithful to the Lord unto death.
Eric Riddle from Scotland was a very famous runner. He participated in the Paris Summer Olympics in 1924. He was anticipated to be awarded a gold medal. However, there was a problem. The final game was scheduled to be held on Sunday. Participating in the track event on Sundays was against his belief. So, he gave up the finals although he was a heavily favorite. Officials from the British Athletic Association strongly persuaded him to participate in the final event. Yet, Riddle rejected, saying, "I cannot steal the day that is wholly dedicated to the LORD."
Later he became a missionary to China. And he closed his life which had been devoted to God wholly. His life story was made into a movie, and its title is "Chariots of Fire."
2
Apostle John sent letters to the seven churches which were scattered in Asia Minor. Although John is the writer of the letters, Jesus Christ is the One who speaks in the letters. The church in Smyrna was one of them.
Jesus Christ who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again says to the Christians in Smyrna:
"I know your affliction and poverty--yet you are rich."
You may be rich although you are in affliction and poverty. How is it possible?
Your richness is a spiritual matter. You are a citizen in the Kingdom of Heaven and you have a mansion there as Jesus promised his disciples (John 14:2). Jesus went there to prepare a dwelling place for each of you.
Jesus tells the saints in Smyrna: "Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days."
The saints in the Smyrnian Church were persecuted by the Devil. Yet, they could pass through the persecution because they looked to Jesus, the initiator and the perfector of their faith. Although the persecution was so hard to bear, but it was not endless.
And when you suffer, your God will be with you to reduce your pain and to let you bear it.
Jesus exhorts them: "Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life."
Our Lord has been faithful to us, and he is asking us to be faithful unto death.
There was Polycarp, a bishop of the church in Smyrna in the second century. He was caught and brought to the proconsul to be martyred.
Seeing Polycarp's old age, the proconsul told him:
"Respect your age. Swear by the genius of Caesar, repent, say: 'Away with the Atheists.'"
Polycarp was silent for a while.
The proconsul pressed him, saying:
"Take the oath and I will let you go. Revile Christ!"
Then, Polycarp answered:
"For eighty-six years have I been his servant, and he has done me nothing wrong, and how can I blaspheme my King who saved me."
The proconsul persisted again, saying:
"Swear by the genius of Caesar!"
Polycarp answered:
"If you vainly suppose that I will swear by the genius of Caesar, as you say, and pretend that you are ignorant who I am, listen plainly: I am a Christian. And if you wish to learn the doctrine of Christianity, fix a day and listen."
The proconsul said:
"I have wild beasts, I will deliver you to them, unless you repent."
Polycarp answered:
"Call for them, for repentance from better to worse is not allowed to us; but it is good to change from evil to righteousness."
The proconsul said:
"I will cause you to be consumed by fire, if you despise the beasts, unless you repent."
Polycarp responded:
"You threaten with fire that burns for a time, and is quickly quenched, for you do not know the fire which awaits the wicked in the judgment to come and in everlasting punishment. But why are you waiting? Come, do what you will."
Polycarp was so brave before death, as he was so sure about what would wait for him.
3
Remember Jesus' exhortation toward us: "Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life." Jesus himself has been faithful to God unto death. He died on the cross to fulfill God's plan of salvation of his people.
Paul has been faithful in his Christian life, confessing: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing" (2 Timothy 4:7-8).
How can you be faithful unto death in your daily life. "Be faithful unto death" is not so difficult as you might think.
If you desire to love God more and desire to live by his Word, he will give you the power to live according to his will.
Let us ask God to help us so that we may be faithful unto death and that we may be awarded the crown of life.
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