Behold, I stand at the door and knock

Revelation 3:7-22 from the daily reading in the One Year Bible

“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:

He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says this:

⁸ ‘I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name. ⁹ Behold, I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and make them know that I have loved you. ¹⁰ Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. ¹¹ I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown. ¹² He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name. ¹³ He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

¹⁴ “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:

The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this:

¹⁵ ‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. ¹⁶ So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. ¹⁷ Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, ¹⁸ I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. ¹⁹ Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent. ²⁰ Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. ²¹ He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. ²² He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”

It can be helpful, as we read the letters to the churches, to know the background of each particular church, the region it was in and the demographic of the people who comprised its membership. We can gain some insight about both what is said to encourage and what is said to warn each particular church. For this current reflection, I have chosen instead to look at what is said to the churches more broadly, to apply what is said to the church as a whole today and to us as believers individually. There are elements in all the messages to the churches which can benefit us today, if we “hear what the Spirit says.”   

In today’s text, the church at Philadelphia receives no correction or warning from the Lord. He says:   “I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name… Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”    This church obviously was not recognized as the biggest or most powerful church. But again we see the words “I know your deeds.” The Lord knows all of our deeds. He even knows our hearts. So like the church at Philadelphia, it is not always the great accomplishments in the sight of man which the Lord will honor and reward. Instead the Lord rewards those who are faithful, those who persevere, those who do not deny His name and those who hold fast to what they have in Him. We cannot be certain what the promise to keep those from the hour of testing means. Some would say that it would be the rapture of the faithful, the taking them away to be with the Lord before the great tribulation. Perhaps it is as the psalmist says:     He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!” For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper And from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with His pinions, And under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark. You will not be afraid of the terror by night, Or of the arrow that flies by day; Of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, Or of the destruction that lays waste at noon. A thousand may fall at your side And ten thousand at your right hand, But it shall not approach you. You will only look on with your eyes And see the recompense of the wicked.For you have made the Lord, my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place. No evil will befall you, Nor will any plague come near your tent. For He will give His angels charge concerning you, (Psalm 91:1-11)       Whether by removal or by refuge, the Lord promises to keep those who are faithful. He promises to abide with them and in them forever.  

To the church at Laodicea, the Lord says:  “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot.  So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.”       Many say that this church most represents the church today, at least the western church, where we live with excess riches. There are many who are members of churches who it could easily be said are lukewarm at best, concerning their relationship with the Lord. Many attend regularly or at least fairly regularly and acknowledge an importance of faith in their lives. The Lord though warns against lukewarm faith. Perhaps one of the greatest hindrances to a good on fire relationship with God, is as the text says many say: “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.”       A focus on worldly wealth and riches interferes with our focus on God. Jesus says:    “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.”  (Matthew 6:19-24)   Concern about and comfort with worldly riches, possessions and convenience detracts from a relationship with God, who Himself will supply all our needs. Jesus continues in Matthew 6:31-33 saying:   ^“Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”    The Lord’s message to the lukewarm Church is:   “I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.”

At the end of Revelation it says: “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done.” (Revelation 22:12) The Lords desire though is not to condemn. 2 Peter 3:9 says:  The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.        It is because the Lord does not want any to perish but for all to come to repentance that rather than coming quickly, He stands and knocks. He reproves and disciplines, He calls us to repent, to make our focus His kingdom and His righteousness.

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus Christ; precious Holy Spirit thank You for Your word, Your messages to the churches, to us. May we, may I not only hear what You say, but in any and every way that I need to respond to Your discipline, may I repent and truly seek Your kingdom and Your righteousness. May I truly abide in You and know the shelter, the refuge and the goodness of Your promises to me.    Amen