When you face persecution, trials, and hardships, follow the example of the apostles. Despite great suffering, these faithful men persevered. They kept their eyes fixed on heaven and the joys that awaited them. May you do the same!
The early church certainly had its fair share of suffering.
Hi, I'm Joni, and Ken Tada and I have been watching a really great YouTube series on the seven churches of Revelation hosted by Dr. Joe Stowell. I think it’s produced by Day of Discovery, and you can easily find it on YouTube. Anyway, Joe takes the viewer to the actual locations of the churches at Laodicea, Smyrna, Sardis, Philadelphia, Pergamum, the rest. And as he walks through the ruins of these cities, Joe Stowell describes what these early Christians went through – losing their jobs, social standing, threats on their lives. In the last book of the Bible, the book of Revelation, the Spirit of Jesus even mentions the martyrdom of someone called Antipas, the Bishop of Pergamum. I thought that was curious, so I looked it up and learned that the priests of the temples in that city were enraged with Antipas because he kept telling the idol worshippers about Jesus Christ. And for that, he lost his life.
Anyway, all this to say, the writers of the New Testament were a bruised and battered bunch. But, oh, the reward that awaited them. It’s why James and John, Paul and Peter wrote so much about heaven. The hope of heaven actually stoked fire in their bones, and their writings were laced with all kinds of references to the time when their Savior would restore all things and complete the kingdom. Continually they were praying, “Come, Lord Jesus!” ’Cause they were eagerly waiting for Jesus Christ to be revealed. These suffering saints – even later church fathers like Polycarp, Irenaeus, and Antipas – weren’t trying to escape earth’s suffering; they gladly endured the persecution and afflictions and the threats of death. They were able to be happy because they knew heaven would reveal the earth-shaking significance behind every single pain, abuse, tear, or affliction. They likened themselves to soldiers poised on the watchtower, workers hoeing for the harvest, athletes straining toward the finish line, and virgins waiting wide-eyed in the night, lamps trimmed, hearts afire, and scanning the horizon for the arrival of their beloved. For New Testament writers who suffered – and suffered much – the world was no party. Rather, they were anticipating the big party. The coming party. And we join them, don’t we, in saying “Come, Lord Jesus.”
You know, their stories inspire us – to see the way they persevered. ’Cause I want to persevere through affliction. And I know that you do, as well. So, friend, would you please hold fast, stay faithful, persevere. You have been blessed in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing. You’ve got salvation; you got citizenship in heaven; you got a title, adoption, family, a mission, the power to overcome. You are an overcomer. You’ve got power to say yes to grace and no to ungodliness. Best of all, you’ve got heaven awaiting you, and your suffering is stretching your soul’s capacity for an eternal reward that you can barely grasp down here on earth. So remember the writers of the New Testament; remember people like Antipas of Pergamum. Look to the examples of Paul and Peter, James and John. And be the athlete straining toward the finish line. Be the soldier poised on the watchtower. Be the worker sowing for the harvest. Keep your eyes peeled on heaven’s horizons, for Jesus – he’s on his way back to restore all things and complete the kingdom. Let that hope of heaven stoke your bones today. And do not waste your suffering; instead, join great Christians of the past and persevere. Be in their league, and be more than an overcomer.
© Joni and Friends