“…Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” Revelation 2:10

Keep the Faith

These words were written to the church in Smyrna. Smyrna was a port city with a good harbor about thirty-five miles northwest of Ephesus. The Christian community there was poor. They were harassed by both the Romans’ heavy-handed oversight and by the Jews who would entangle the liberty of grace with legalism and self-righteousness. By the early second century, Polycarp was the pastor at Smyrna. He was martyred there for his faith in 156 B.C. This Scripture of encouragement and exhortation was plainly, boldly, and literally lived out in Polycarp’s life and death. This was a persecuted people.

It is hard for us here in America to know what real, hardcore persecution looks or feels like. It surely threatens, causing fear, anxiety, and panic. It must be wearing, clouding everything done or said. And yet, these believers were told not to fear. They were plainly told of suffering to come. It was expected. They weren’t rescued. Suffering and persecution impacted them.

Even though I cannot fathom what they went through or what believers around the planet currently endure in our own day, I hear the words of Jesus. “Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” This is bare naked, gritty faith that does not waver or cringe at the threats of a diabolic adversary. Where does this kind of faith, this kind of crazy courage come from? Assuredly it is anchored in a higher and richer vision of promise and extraordinary life.

Jesus is our example. He was all in. He withheld not one thing. Thousands upon thousands before us have laid down their lives for the sake of the gospel. The promise is a crown of life. This crown trumps suffering, trumps death, trumps the enemy of our souls. 

It’s not always as drastic as martyrdom. Sometimes subtlety is more effective. Let not false teaching or faulty doctrine confuse us. Let not fear dissuade us. Let not suffering overcome us. Let not complacency paralyze us. Be faithful all through the years. Be faithful in youth. Be faithful in marriage. Be faithful in business practices. Be faithful as you parent children. Be faithful in prayer. Be faithful in finances. Be faithful in age and frailty. Be faithful in ministry. Be faithful unto death. You will be gloriously crowned in life everlasting and find yourself in the presence of the One who has always loved you ever so faithfully.

“Father, You are faithful in all things. Your love to us is perfect in every aspect. You have overcome. May our hearts be found faithful before You. In Jesus name, Amen.”