A Millenium Message for the Church: PHILADELPHIA

TROWEL & SWORD

Resources - Meditations

September 2000

A Millenium Message for the Church

PHILADELPHIA - LOYAL IN CHRIST (REV 3:7-13)

Rev. Bill van Schie

Ancient Philadelphia, the city of “brotherly love” is found under the modern city of Alashehir in modern Turkey, between Pergamum and Collossae and about 50 kilometers east of Sardis. Because it is under a modern city it has not been excavated. What we know about Philadelphia largely comes from other writings and inscriptions.

Philadelphia was an ‘outback’ city, known as the ‘gateway to the east’, because a number of east-west and north-south trade routes converged there. It was known for its rich fertile fields producing good quality grapes and wines. Because of its abundant agriculture and success in trade, Philadelphia was a wealthy and prosperous city.

In Philadelphia there was a very strong Jewish enclave with a well-organized synagogue. They were taught that they were the true Israel because they had the orthodox traditions and because they observed all the Old Testament laws, rules for eating and for the sacrificial system. They had good connections and influence throughout the business community in the city. They were strongly anti-Christian and excommunicated any Jews who showed interest in Christianity.

In this prosperous city where the Jews had a powerful influence God planted a small, simple, poor and basic Christian Church that had little impact or influence in its environment.

The Lord knew that they really valued the Word and the fact that they had been saved by grace alone. Even though they had endured opposition and some of them had been excommunicated from the Jewish Synagogue. Although they had been cut off from their roots and rich traditions, they did not grumble or complain; they patiently endured. The experience of having received the grace, the forgiveness, the acceptance and loyalty of Jesus, had made them incredibly loyal to their Lord.

Yet they had doubts. You can easily imagine them asking, “Did we make the right decision in following Jesus as the Messiah? We have lost all those colorful ceremonies, festivals, and all those meaningful traditions. Maybe we have made a mistake in following Jesus and so we will also lose our eternal inheritance? How can we be sure?”

Jesus writes to this church and encourages them to “hold on” and to not “waiver” from the truth. Jesus the true “Messiah” will give them the real “keys of David” and through the “open door” accept them in his kingdom and will crown them and vindicate them as his true citizens by writing their names on His “pillar”. Jesus saw what they had lost. He saw the opposition they suffered. He saw their loyalty and encouraged them in it. Jesus continues to be loyal to them.

There are those in the Christian community today who have lost much because of their loyalty to Jesus. There are those who have been turned out from families and communities and have lost all that they had. We only need think of our brethren in Ambon, Lombok and in the Sudan, just to mention some. Jesus encourages them to continue in their loyalty with His words, “Hold on! Do not waiver! You already have your reward, you only need to claim it!”

Our opposition in a tolerant, prosperous western country may be more subtle than others and yet it can be just as lethal. We may be lulled away from being loyal to the Lord by our comforts and pleasures. We may be enticed by our earthly material successes and priorities. We may be pressured into silence and compromise by our fear of embarrassment and our desire to be accepted. We may be opposed, being labeled as bigots, narrow minded, archaic and irrelevant for upholding the truth, just as the archbishop of Melbourne was recently, when he said that homosexuals can be cured. Doubts may creep in! “Maybe I am archaic. Maybe Christianity is old fashioned. Maybe I need to ‘get with it’ today, we do live in a different word!”

Well Jesus, the true Messiah, comes to us and says, “Hold on, don’t waiver! I have, in my ascension, already opened heaven for you. I love you and you are condemnation free. I have already accepted you and your names is already written on my pillar!”

Friend, Jesus, when He went to the cross, would have gone to the cross if you were the only person alive on earth. Such was his loyalty for you. Today he reigns in heaven with the same loyalty for your benefit. So hold fast, be loyal! He is loyal to you!

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