Suffering Servants

Wandering in the Wilderness: Suffering Servants  

Sunday, July 19, 2020    

Revelation 2:1-7 (1219)  

Introduction   

            The letter to Ephesus reminded us that Christ expects us to live as though we are under His rule within His Kingdom. We are not to straddle the fence between the world and Christ’s Kingdom. Doing so will only lead to division within the Body and reduce the efficacy of its witness. The letter to Smyrna presents a contrast that should get our attention. The saints are commended for faithful endurance through slander and physical suffering. Note that Jesus acknowledges that some will die in this life. He assures them of eternal rewards. He also warns against the “second death.”

 

The Christian Response to Discomfort and Suffering

            What was it about the Smyrna Christians that so pleases the Lord? The answer may be easier to understand by looking at the people of God who wandered in the wilderness with Moses. When God delivered Israel from slavery to Egypt, God intended to bring them into a promised land of blessing and success. However, the people were uncooperative. In fact, they complained and fought against God almost every step of the way. Every time they suffered some form of discomfort, which could have been a simple matter of not knowing everything they felt entitled to know, they faithlessly grumbled. They were filled with bitter poison that came from their mouths like venom. 

            Eventually, God had enough of their cold-heartedness and bitter petulance. God gave them a dose of their own medicine by allowing venomous vipers to attack the complaining people with painful bites and agonizing deaths. (Numbers 21:4-5) After suffering just punishments every time they grumbled and rebelled, this final one seems to have stuck with the people as they finally recognized the death that was in them and cried out to the Lord; acknowledging their sin. (verse 7) After they were saved by looking to the cross that bore the emblem of their sin, they were saved. 

            Jesus said, “as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:14-15) He said this to connect the familiar plight of the complaining wanderers to our own. We are filled with the bitter poison of sin – best known in our pride, that will kill our souls in the “second death” unless we repent of our sin and look to Christ’s cross for salvation. 

 

Conclusion

            Smyrna Christians are not complaining but faithfully enduring their discomfort and suffering. They know that their sin is washed away by the blood of Jesus. They are confident of their everlasting existence because they have God’s propitiation through Christ-Jesus to save them from the “second death.” Smyrna Christians do not complain because they have an eternal perspective. They know that mere humans cannot take this away from them. They are not only unafraid, but they are joyful, even praising God amid their pain. They can do so because they know in their hearts that discomfort and suffering in the world of the flesh are temporary and will be forgotten in the immortal presence of the Lord. 

 Our current wilderness is offering opportunities to complain or praise. What will the Lord find you doing? Will your patient endurance garner Christ’s praise? Or, will your bitter complaining bring about His judgment?