Mary had grown up knowing that she was different from the other kids, and she hated it. She was born with a cleft palate and had to bear the jokes and stares of cruel children who teased her non-stop about her misshaped lip, crooked nose, and garbled speech. With all the teasing, Mary grew up hating the fact that she was ‘different’. She was convinced that no one, outside her family, could ever love her—until she entered Mrs. Leonard’s class. Mrs. Leonard had a warm smile, a round face, and shiny brown hair. While everyone in her class liked her, Mary came to love Mrs. Leonard. In the 1950’s, it was common for teachers to give their children an annual hearing test. However, in Mary’s case, in addition to her cleft palate, she was barely able to hear out of one ear. Determined not to let the other children have another ‘difference’ to point out, she would cheat on the test each year. The “whisper test” was given by having a child walk to the classroom door, turn sideways, close one ear with a finger, and then repeat something which the teacher whispered. Mary turned her bad ear towards her teacher and pretended to cover her good ear. She knew that teachers would often say things like, “The sky is blue,” or “What color are your shoes?” But not on that day. Surely, God put seven words in Mrs. Leonard’s mouth that changed Mary’s life forever. When the whisper test came, Mary heard the words: “I wish you were my little girl.”
We are all little Mary’s looking for someone to care. We all need some support when we are just trying to make it in this world. Jesus is more than that. Jesus goes beyond just encouraging us, He provides substance to prove it. Much like Mrs. Leonard, Jesus tells us what we desperately need to hear. The church in Smyrna was given an amazing commendation. They were told what they desperately needed to hear— “I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer” (Revelation 2.9-10a). Jesus understands the hardships and headaches we are dealing with as church members. In verse 9 He said He knew the fakers in their midst. The posers. The ones who would pretend to understand and be one of you, but aren’t. Paul warned the churches of Galatia about this in 2.4— “And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage.” They’re just there to see what you have, then take it all away by forcing their guilt-ridden agenda on you. He also let them know that He is very aware of their “tribulations” and “poverty” they were suffering. Not to mention the fact that Jesus said that although they seemed like they were in “poverty”, they were really “rich”. The One who sees past time and space knows now what you will receive in glory. You are so rich! Verse 8 explains why— “…These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive.”
He is beyond us. He transcends us in every way. He is alive! He died for us, yes He did… but He is alive! He transcends time, He was, is, and is to come (Revelation 1.8). He is the “first and the last” He said. This struggle from within is solved by the One who transcends the problems we are facing now. Having said that, verse 10 goes on to say— “…behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” There you go. Just as He always has done, Jesus is Truth, therefore He does not sugarcoat anything. He makes it clear that we have a real enemy and his name is Satan. He also clarifies what Satan has desired to do: cast you in prison, and persecute you. Just in case you missed it—Satan is the enemy. He will attack. You can guarantee that. He hates God, and if you are the child of God, he hates you. Truthfully he hates all humanity because we are made in the image of God. To the point Jesus is making specifically to this church— Satan desires, and will work vigorously, to attack churches with tactics not excluding martyrdom for the faith. Jesus warns them of this fact. Notice also the link between the effective stand this church was taking, and the attack that is being leveled against them. Satan will level up his game against us. If we are ineffectively docile then we probably have nothing to worry about. Conversely if we are: seeking to reach the lost at a more fervent rate; giving God unashamed adoration in and outside the walls of our gathering places; preaching and teaching the word of truth without apology; taking a stand against sin in our lives; loving without reserve… then we ought to expect an assault that would cause you to quit. That’s the goal of Satan—stop the church members from fulfilling their calling. If he can do that, then even more souls will not hear, even more lives will not be changed, and even more nominal churches will be closed.
This is a message of challenge unparalleled in modern churches. It is a call to simultaneously stand and march forward. It is a call to come closer and see that God blesses those that mourn (Matthew 5.4). It is a call to surrender what hasn’t been surrendered. It is a call to you and me church member, specifically— “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches” (Revelation 2.11). It is a call to focus on our eternal reward and our eternal life rather than the short temporal life we now live in— “He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death” (Revelation 2.11). Jesus is making it clear that we can be an overcomer and see our reward shortly. We that are overcomers are those who trust the statement He just made. I will die a physical death here, but I will not die the spiritual death for eternity in the lake of fire (Revelation 20.6,14). Jesus cares alright. In fact He made a way. Take His path. It isn’t easy and it’s definitely narrow, but the end is amazing!
Thank you Jesus for your calling and election. Thank you for your blood applied. Thank you for the sacrifice and the work you did on Calvary. Thank you that by your grace and through the faith you supplied, I am now saved and eternally bound to you (Ephesians 2.8-9). I can’t wait to see you. Help me to overcome. Help me to stand. Help me to see the fight as a blessing, and the persecution as a trophy to be earned.