Folks have probably been saying this since HE ascended back to Heaven to sit at the FATHER’s right hand, but Jesus Christ is coming shortly. I don’t say it lightly, but with fervent urgency. Is HE coming tomorrow? Next week? Next year? According to the Scriptures, no one knows the exact time. But HIS coming is sure and soon, as the signs of the time suggest.
The latest sign — a devastating earthquake in Haiti — serves as an urgent reminder that we all need to take stock of ourselves and where we stand in our relationship with Christ Jesus. It’s been estimated that about 50,000 Haitians have died since the quake struck a few days ago. These people were just going about their normal business — walking home from work; headed to the grocery store; taking a bath; sleeping in bed; playing with their children; sitting in a classroom… some were likely even in church. And what happened in Haiti could easily happen where we are now. Just because a group of scientists have said the danger is elsewhere, doesn’t necessarily make it so. GOD IS SOVEREIGN and HE can easily bring calamity at any time. As the saying goes, tomorrow is not promised… live each day as if it were your last.
Well, I say this to each and every brother and sister in Christ Jesus — get right today, right now! We have no idea when the heavens will break and Christ Jesus will be revealed for every eye to see HIM — even the ones who pierced HIM. Take a look at the letters written to the churches in the Book of Revelation. Yes, they were letters written specifically to local churches at the time, but as any student of the Bible will tell you — what occurred with the Church in its founding days is still occurring today.
As the apostles warned of false prophets, diverse, non-Biblical doctrines and people developing “itchy ears” … so we are still warning today — and these false prophets, false doctrines and fleshly people are running rampant in the churches today. As Christ Jesus warned the churches who received HIS letters, HE is still warning us today. Let’s get it together people, while GOD is giving us the time.
Hold yourself up to the Scriptures and see how you measure up. I most certainly don’t want to be found wanting when weighed in the scales.
Let’s see what Jesus said to the churches and what HE’s saying to us still today.
The Loveless Church (Rev. 2)
4 … I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. 5Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.
The Loveless Church (the church at Ephesus) apparently describes people who have grown complacent and have lost their fervent desire to please the LORD as they did when they were first saved. Is that you? Have you grown comfortable with where you are and what you are doing? Have you been neglecting doing the types of things for the LORD Jesus Christ that you did when you fell in love with HIM? HE’s calling you to stir up that early love and become motivated to keep working as you did when you first met HIM and wanted nothing more than to please HIM.
The Persecuted Church (Rev. 2)
10Do 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.
The letter to the church at Smyrna is directed to those facing or who are going through persecution (as one day soon many of us will be). That is the cup these Christians have been given — and we are called to endure even unto death, as Christ Jesus did when HE pressed on to Calvary. Jesus knew what was before HIM and so do we: “the crown of life.” Don’t fear and don’t faint — the LORD has ordained it to be so. Keep trusting in HIM and HE will deliver you. Easier said than done? Again, look to how Jesus suffered on the Cross and endured humiliation at the hands of those HE created. Look to how the apostles and early Christians suffered — stonings, beheadings, crucifixions, beatings. If our LORD and SAVIOR Jesus Christ had to suffer, why do we expect that none of us will as well? (Read more about Christian suffering here…)
The Compromising Church (Rev. 2)
4… I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality. 15So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth.
This letter to the church at Pergamum describes those who are encouraging destructive doctrines that would turn people’s hearts and minds away from the LORD our GOD. Balaam and Balak are related to idolatry and immorality, while the Nicolaitans are related to heresy. Are you apart of a church that has become so compromising it’s hard to identify if there is any true worship of GOD? Are the teachings more focused on pleasing people rather than pleasing GOD? Are things being taught and promoted that have no place in the Holy Scriptures? Then perhaps it’s time for you to leave… or stand up and speak out about the danger of turning away from the LORD or mixing and mashing doctrines to please people. Perhaps the LORD would use you to lead them away from these destructive heresies and towards repentance.
The Corrupt Church (Rev. 2)
20But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. 21I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. … 24But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden. 25Only hold fast what you have until I come.
Get out of this Thaytira-like church immediately and/or put down the evil works you hold in your hand — for these are under the influence of Satan. You know these churches/people — they worship “angels” and strange “spirits”, revel in non-Biblical “manifestations of the spirit” and some of them even promote the use of drugs in their “ministries” and are obsessed with fulfilling the lusts of the flesh (i.e., sexual pleasure). Get away from these sorts of things — they have nothing to do with worshiping the LORD our GOD in Spirit and in Truth. Those who practice this false Christianity are hell-bound. As the Word says, they “refuse to repent.” Wash your hands, shake off the dust of your feet and walk away and warn others — GOD has no place among these people and HE is nowhere in their demonic doctrines.
The Dead Church (Rev. 3)
1 … “‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. 3 Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you.
This letter to the church in Sardis shows that there is still hope for those who have lost faith and are becoming lifeless in Christ. HE’s calling you to wake up! Apparently, you’ve fallen into a deep sleep and have become extremely weak in the Faith and are about to be cut off from the Kingdom of GOD (i.e., “about to die”). Remember what you first received and heard — the true doctrine of Salvation in Christ Jesus and the holy life that is required to have a place in HIS Kingdom. Work with what you have now and strengthen what remains — or you risk losing it all. Wake up from your slumber and stop drifting.
The Faithful Church (Rev. 3)
8″‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. … 10 Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. 11 I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.
This letter to the church in Philadelphia (Greek for “brotherly love”) is the type of servant that we should all aspire to be — faithful and persevering. Because of their good works, the LORD has given them opportunities to keep working and no one will be able to change that (evangelizing). Because of their faithfulness — and desire to keep pressing forward even though they have little power or strength — Christ Jesus says these people will escape or be protected from the great tribulation (i.e., “hour of trial”) that the whole world will suffer. We are called on by the LORD Jesus Christ to hold fast to what we have — keeping on faithfully doing the work HE has called us to do without fear (for HE has provided an open door no one can shut). Then HE will one day hand us the crown of victory that is already ours.
The Lukewarm Church (Rev. 3)
15″‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. 19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. 20Behold, I stand at the door and knock.
This letter to the church at Laodicea expresses concern for those who have become blinded by the accumulation of material things, not realizing (perhaps) that they have neglected spiritual things. These are perhaps folks who have grown so focused on teaching prosperity rather than ministering about repentance. They can’t seem to decide which is more important. They have all the material things they could ever desire thinking they have it all — but are not realizing that material things count as nothing with GOD. HE seeks us to worship HIM in Spirit and in Truth — though rich materially, these people are spiritually bankrupt. Though wearing the finest apparel, these people don’t know their naked shame is visible before GOD. These people are focused on what’s before them instead of looking into the deeper things of GOD (1 Corinthians 2). Half-hearted folks (who know better but refuse to turn fully to the LORD) have no place in the Kingdom — either you completely belong to GOD or you don’t at all. Trying to play both sides is a turn off to Christ Jesus and HE’ll have to dismiss you entirely.
So we have been warned repeatedly and many of us chastised — as the LORD says, those whom HE loves HE chastises. Let’s stop shrugging it off and saying tomorrow this, or tomorrow that. We might not get tomorrow. Let’s recommit ourselves to the LORD our GOD TODAY. Let us confess our sins and repent of our unfaithfulness, corruption, and half-hearted ways and turn fully to the LORD. HE is more than ready, willing and able to heal us and restore us. That’s what HE desires to do. Let’s not be like the people during Noah’s time — who were going about their normal lives even as the LORD shut the door of the Ark and started to shower the Earth with rain. Once Jesus Christ comes, that’s it. It’s over. No second chances, no pleading for forgiveness — no. At that time, if you are caught unawares, the only words the LORD Jesus Christ will have for you is, “Get away from ME. I never knew you.”
If today, you should hear HIS voice… repent and turn fully to the LORD our GOD for Salvation in Christ Jesus.
