Sermon snippet – Where Did We Go Right?
INTRODUCTION – Revelation 2:8-11 – I wish that the title of this message were my original creation, but it is not. Rather, it is the name of a country song, a love song intended to be sung as a duet. For our purposes today, let us join in a different type of duet.
- WE WENT RIGHT AND GO RIGHT BECAUSE OF JESUS
Verse 8 reminds us of where all good things begin – with God the Son, Jesus Christ. I have been belaboring John 6:44 in our daily readings on-line; I will mention it only briefly here: “No man can come to me, except the Father Which hath sent Me draw him, and I will raise him up at the last day.” We should periodically consider the bad what-might-have-beens, the possible negative outcomes that would change our title back to “Where Did We Go Wrong?” For example, we could be sleeping off a Sunday morning hangover; isn’t it much more pleasant to nap at church during the sermon? (Really, someone should tell that preacher that he is far too long-winded!) Think of the miracle of going right. Meditate on God’s work of creation, His plan of salvation, and the execution of that plan – which included the execution of Jesus. Ponder further on the power of the Resurrection, the writing of the Word, centuries of faithful Christians keeping the faith, godly personal influences, and God the Holy Spirit drawing, drawing, always drawing. Truly God is the Architect and Artist of our salvation; He is where we go right.
- WE WENT RIGHT AND GO RIGHT IN OUR WORKS
Verse 9 tells us that God knows our “works.” Living with Jesus frees us from boredom, for there is always something worthwhile to do. After all, we are serving an infinite God. We are also freed from apathy, because what we do matters. Colossians 3:23 says, “Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.” Rightly understood, then, all good and honest work can be work for God. Revelation 13:14 says in part “Their works do follow them.” Our works lead to heavenly reward (because God is so good that He rewards us for doing what we should simply be doing anyway); these works also influence others here, such that the impact remains even after we are gone.
- WE WENT RIGHT AND GO RIGHT IN STANDING UP TO THE ENEMY
“Tribulation” in verse 9 implies taking a beating. The Christians in Smyrna lived at the center of emperor worship in Asia Minor; moreover, they were vigorously opposed by the local Jewish people (Judaism, unlike Christianity, being a recognized and protected religion). Of course, we would prefer no such opposition, but it is a given considering the reality of good versus evil, of right against wrong. The contrast provides a clear perspective. For example, would we prefer to be on the other side, hopped up on drugs and hatred, hurting others, harming property, wanting to take what others have worked hard for? I’ll take the beating; if nothing else, it shows that we are going right.
- WE WENT RIGHT AND GO RIGHT IN OUR RELATIVE POVERTY
Verse 9 reminds us that the Smyrnan Christians were not materially wealthy. Our “poverty” is not as great as theirs, certainly, but we could be richer if we worshiped money. In Matthew 6:24, Jesus flatly stated, “Ye cannot serve God and mammon [money].” Things can distract us to death, physical death (for example, texting leading to a car crash) but especially spiritual death. We can contrast these laudatory words of Jesus to the Smyrnans with His harsh warning to the Laodiceans in Revelation 3:17: “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing: and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.” Graciously, our Lord then provides an alternative (verses 19-22). There are more distractions now than ever. Sometimes in sermons, I work on my rap skills (not that they need much work), but today I am honing my country music skills. I came up with a few lines this week, each of which could easily expand into a full verse if anyone (feel free) took the time to construct the rhyme. “She looks a whole lot better on Facebook than she does face-to-face.” “Without her smart phone, she’s number than a bootjack.” “If not for GPS, she’d be out of this world.” “She puts the twit in Twitter.” The last one is my favorite even though it is not about information technology: “When she took off her smart glasses, I was dumbstruck and dumbfounded.” The kicker in the chorus (and also the title of this soon-to-be smash hit) is “Man proposes, but woman disposes.” Is all of this silly? Yes… and so are our distractions. They are worse than silly, for they make us spiritually poor and can lead to spiritual death.
CONCLUSION – IF WE GO RIGHT, WE HAVE LEFT FEAR BEHIND. Verses 10 and 11 remind us that in Christ we no longer need to be fearful. Sadly, people who are afraid to die are afraid to live. Through faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ, we are set free to live, to live now, to live forever.