Purity in Belief and Action
This morning I attended a town hall meeting with my local State Representative. The topic was on palliative care and hospice. However, it was interesting to see the questions and comments that focused on a bill to allow for “assisted suicide” in Colorado. I am thankful for those who “spoke up” for life in the face of some sneers and negative reaction. After my meeting Debbie and I took at tour of the new Morning Star assisted living facility. It was very nice and we looked at it for the possibility of serving the needs of my mother.
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “…You have some there who follow the teaching of Balaam. He taught Balak how to cause the people of Israel to sin by eating food offered to idols and by taking part in sexual sins. You also have some who follow the teaching of the Nicolaitans. So change your hearts and lives. If you do not, I will come to you quickly and fight against them with the sword that comes out of my mouth.” Revelation 2:14-16 NCV
As the message of the resurrected Christ is communicated to the Church of Pergamum, the Lord appears as one with a sharp two-edged sword from His mouth. We read in the Book of Hebrews, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Heb. 4:12 ESV)
As the Lord appears to this church, He is ready to perform spiritual surgery. There appeared to be an interesting mixture of believers in this church. First of all there were those who stood for their faith in Christ even when one of their members was martyred. They refused to deny the name of the Lord. But as the same time there were those whose lives did not match up to the proclamation of their faith.
Their actions are described as being like the children of Israel who were lead astray in the wilderness and began to mix worship of idols along with sexual immorality. Also, there were those who followed false teachings. It seems the Nicolaitans held to a teaching similar to that of the sin of Balaam. Instead, they held that it was part of their freedom in Christ. They viewed Christian grace and liberty as license to sin.
What is interesting is the Church of Pergamum was “where Satan has his throne.” It is important to be on guard. For those Satan cannot defeat, he will work to render ineffective. The confusion and compromise that comes from false teaching and compromise is as serious as defeat. In politics if someone who is opposed to you does not vote, that is a victory. Spiritually, these believers were holding strong to their faith, but compromised actions were neutralizing their corporate influence.
Jesus was calling those who were compromising to repent. If they did not act, He was preparing to act. They would be confronted with not just the truth but the One who is Truth. They would realize how important the truth they believe and profess is to their actions.
Paul spoke of Christ’s love for the church and said, “…Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault.” (Eph. 5:25-27 NLT) The Lord is looking for a pure and holy and fully devoted Church.
Those who repent and are true to Christ receive this promise, “I will give some of the hidden manna to everyone who wins the victory. I will also give to each one who wins the victory a white stone with a new name written on it.” (Rev. 2:17 NCV)
It appears that the “hidden manna” and “white stone” speak of insight and access. False teaching is often based on some “new revelation or insight.” Jesus is saying “If you want true revelation” stay close to me and my Word. A white stone was often used in Roman times to gain access to certain events. It was like a “ticket” that allowed entrance. It is possible that this is a picture of access and privilege into the Lord’s presence in fulfillment of being faithful to Him to the faith you proclaim and in the life you live.
What we see in this message is a church that must be on guard against compromise. That is why Paul admonished the Ephesian elders to, “Be careful for yourselves and for all the people the Holy Spirit has given to you to oversee. You must be like shepherds to the church of God, which he bought with the death of his own son. I know that after I leave, some people will come like wild wolves and try to destroy the flock. Also, some from your own group will rise up and twist the truth and will lead away followers after them.” (Acts 20:28-30 NCV)
Just as political leaders take a pledge to “guard, protect and defend the constitution from all enemies foreign and domestic” the Church and its leaders must be on guard against threats that come from our spiritual enemy whether from the “outside or inside” the church.