Revelation 2:8-11- And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: 'The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life. I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.'
I wonder what the church in Smyrna would have thought of modern day American Christianity. I wonder how they would have responded to the message that God wants you happy, healthy, and wealthy. I wonder what they would have thought of the promises of American pastors that if people would just come to Christ, then all of their problems would instantly be solved. I wonder what they would think of the many professing American Christians whose lifestyles seem identical to non-Christians.
I'll tell you what I think they would have said. They would have said it was hogwash. They would have said it was heresy. They would have said that America could keep there Christianity-lite. They would settle for the true Gospel that calls us to REPENTANT faith in Christ as our only hope of salvation. They would hold on to the demand of the Gospel that they should deny themselves, pick up their crosses daily, and follow Christ.
Why would they choose such a hard and demanding lifestyle over the possibility of having their "best life now"? Maybe because they actually believed the Word of God. They had the audacity to believe verses like 2 Timothy 3:12. "Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." Did you notice a striking phrase in that verse? It says that ALL who desire to live a godly life in Christ WILL be persecuted. Notice it didn't say some might. It said that all will. They had the nerve to believe Matthew 5:10-12. "Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you." They even had the gall to believe John 15:18-21. "If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, 'A slave is not greater than his master ' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My name's sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me." They understood that Christians are not called to a life of leisure. We are called to follow Christ no matter the cost.
I'll tell something very fascinating about the church in Smyrna. Smyrna means "myrrh". Myrrh was a spice used for perfume and anointing dead bodies. Myrrh had to be crushed before the aroma would really come out. It is the same way with Christians. It is the hard times that prove who the genuine followers of Christ are. Anybody can "follow" Christ during the easy and happy times. Persecution and trials separate the true from the false. Hard times actually make the true Christians stronger, while it makes the fake believers jump ship.
Romans 5:3-5 tells us, "More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us."
John MacArthur told a story that illustrates how the persecuted church may seem poor, but it is actually rich beyond measure (just like Christ said about the church in Smyrna).
"They had holiness, they had power, they had love, they had joy, they had grace, they had peace, they had true friends. They had a divine resource. They had a sympathetic Savior. They had grace upon grace. They were rich. That's how it is with a persecuted church. Don't you ever feel sorry for the persecuted church. I will never forget standing down here in front of this row after a service and having a pastor come to me when the Soviet Union was still under communist rule and shaking my hand and saying, "I have read your material in Russian and I come here and I have experienced your church today and I just want to tell you I don't know how you can possibly endure being a pastor in the United States."
And I said, "What do you mean?"
He said, "I could never be a pastor here. It's so much easier in the Soviet Union."
I said, "Why do you say that?"
He said, "Because your people are caught up in the world and material things and comfort and how can you find true commitment?" He said, "I would far rather pastor in the Soviet Union." John MacArthur
In closing, I'm going to let Scripture speak for itself.
1 Peter 1:3-9- Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.
