05/08/2023
Hold your spiritual ground. Do you have the patience to wait as God prepares you to be used by Him to complete His will? Do you exhibit the endurance of Sardis in keeping God's commandments and Word? Are you holding fast to your faith so that your crown remains secure against any who would seize it from you?
In Revelation, Jesus tells John to write these words to the church at Sardis...
“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 3:10-11 ESV
Can you hold your ground against time and sin with patience? As God completes His work in you and prepares you for use in achieving His will, you must become like Job. In my devotional reading today Oswald Chambers speaks of patience, endurance, and our use by God in this way...
"Patience is more than endurance. A saint's life is in the hands of God like a bow and arrow in the hands of an archer. God is aiming at something the saint cannot see, and He stretches and strains, and every now and again the saint says- "I cannot stand anymore." God does not heed, He goes on stretching till His purpose is in sight, then He lets fly. Trust yourself in God's hands." - Oswald Chambers
In the example that Chambers uses here, God is not inclined to break the bow. We are never asked to endure more than we can stand. No one has understood this better than Job, but it was something he had to learn as he held tight to his faith; listen as he expresses his hopelessness:
“[I do it because, though He slay me, yet will I wait for and trust Him and] behold, He will slay me; I have no hope–nevertheless, I will maintain and argue my ways before Him and even to His face. This will be my salvation, that a polluted and godless man shall not come before Him.”
Job 13:15-16 AMPC
As his instruction was perfected, his faith remained firm; Job felt certain that he would die, but he also knew that he was not a polluted and godless man. He trusted that he would have an audience with God. Are you equally convinced that you will stand before God in judgement and plead your case? Well, unlike Job, you should know that God’s own Son will stand with you and that it is His blood that washes you clean... that Jesus Christ removes the pollution, and in Him you are far from godless.
“that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.”
2 Corinthians 5:19 ESV
Endure in your faith in Christ. Endure in faith against all sin. Endure in faith against evil. Endure in faith in your love for God. Endure in faith in trust. Endure in all matters of faith with patience, and if you do then like the church at Sardis you will be spared the hour of trial in the final day. God sees and honors the long suffering of those who seek Him without turning.
“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.”
James 4:10 ESV
I was thrilled by the description of eternal life as described by Oswald Chambers so let's seal our thoughts this morning by reading this quote...
"The real meaning of eternal life is a life that can face anything it has to face without wavering. If we take this view, life becomes one great romance, a glorious opportunity for seeing marvelous things all the time. God is disciplining us to get us into this central place of power." - Oswald Chambers
Can we each endure in faith as we are perfected in Christ? Can we look at the promise made to Sardis and see God’s promise to us?
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for my preparation. I thank you for the removal of every behavior and nuance of my life that displeases you. Most of all, I thank you for your Son Jesus whose sacrifice polishes me as I patiently wait to come before you, that His face will brilliantly reflect where once mine was, and his sinless life will cloak my inadequate one. Holy Father, give me the patience to wait on your judgement, and the endurance I need to live my life for you. Let my face turn neither to the right nor to the left as I walk your way. Let me seek you from beneath the loving arm of Jesus, and rest at night comforted by your Holy Spirit... I am certain in my journey... trusting in the knowledge that you are with me always.
Rich Forbes