“And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life.
“ ‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do 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. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’ (Revelation 2:8-11)
What Kind of Church Are We Getting Inside Us: The Fountain of Youth Is A Myth, But Jesus Conquers Death—Revelation 2:8-11
Yesterday we talked about the historic and metaphorical search for the fountain of youth; it seems that every generation of human beings is looking for ways to cheat the aging process and rob death. What are some ways we do that today? In the end, each of those efforts ends in vain, because the fountain of youth has always been a myth. If we live long enough, we will all experience the frailty and decline that accompanies the aging process. If the Lord tarries, we will all taste death; that’s the one reality that’s even more sure than taxes. We might search for a path that will avoid suffering, but hardship and trial are part of the human experience in this broken world. The church of Smyrna was experiencing a particularly difficult kind of suffering: persecution for their faith. It doesn’t receive much media coverage, but numerous believers today, in other parts of the world endure terrible persecution for their commitment to Christ. As we reflect on Jesus’ message to the Smyrna church, please join me in praying for believers in Ukraine and throughout the planet who are enduring intense suffering because of their faith in Jesus. This Smyrna church could stand strong in the face of opposition because Christ promised that His victory was secure. They would face imprisonment and even death, but they would not be touched by “the second death.” Though they would taste death, their reward would be the crown of life. The fountain of youth was and is a myth. We cannot escape hardship and, in the end, will not cheat death, but Jesus conquers death. We will, at times, suffer in this life, often because of our faith. But Christ’s promise is still secure, even more so than death and taxes. Jesus is the first and the last. He died and rose again, and so will we, if we follow Him by faith.