A Revelation Invitation

“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: …
“‘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. I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.’” (Revelation 3:7a,10-11 ESV)

As a high school freshman my son joined the wrestling team. Because he had no previous experience, he had little success that first year. So when he told his coach that his goal was to qualify for the New England championships by his senior year, his coach chuckled. Only the top three wrestlers in each weight class in Rhode Island qualified for the New England championships. For four seasons, my son stuck it out through grueling (and sweaty) practices often sparring with bigger, stronger and more skilled teammates. He competed in invitational tournaments all over New England challenged by many of the area’s best wrestlers. He improved as the years went by but never won any of those tournaments. By his senior year, through hard work, humility and perseverance, he had become one of the better high school wrestlers in Rhode Island. Unfortunately, he lost his second match in the state tournament, sending him to the consolation bracket requiring him to win every remaining match of the tournament just to place third. He proceeded to beat each successive opponent reaching the consolation finals where his last match would be against the boy who had beaten him earlier in the tournament. Down by one point with thirty seconds remaining in the match, he scored a two point reversal and held on for victory. With so much on the line, it was the most exciting match I had ever seen. His years of patient endurance had paid off.

Enduring difficult times is a normal part of life for anyone. Being a Christian means that you have chosen a path that invites additional hardships that result from our witness for Jesus Christ. It also means that God’s promise of eternal life awaits us. When we persist in obedience through those difficult times, the forces of evil are aligned against us. Jesus promises to protect us—not from those trials but through them. The world has no such assurance when disasters strike. But Jesus “comes” so that we don’t have to face these trials alone. He enables us by our patient endurance to come through them as conquerors.

The expectation is that we “hold fast”, that is, with all of our might. We must hold fast to the eternal kingdom of God. We must hold fast to our salvation letting no one take it from us. We must hold fast waiting for his vindication. And as we do, we prepare to celebrate his coming, even as the world is condemned by it. Then we will receive, as Christ received, the crown of life.

Lord Jesus, thank you for this word of encouragement. Thank you for your promise to keep me from the hour of trial, whenever and whatever it may be. I know that my patient endurance will be rewarded with eternal life just as your patient endurance on the cross resulted in resurrection. Amen.