It cuts coming and going!

“Repent, or I will come to you suddenly and fight against them with the sword of my mouth.” Revelation 2:16

“Write this letter to the angel of the church in Pergamum. This is the message from the one who has a sharp two-edged sword.” Revelation 2: 12

The beginning of each letter speaks of something specific towards the action that will and should be taken. 

The ending of each letter is the reward for those who are obedient to the commands of the Lord and who gain insight and understanding of each letter.

To the angel of the church in Pergamum,

I know where you live; it is the city where the throne of Satan is located and yet you have remained loyal to me. You have refused to deny me even when Antipas, my faithful witness was martyred among you by Satan’s followers. But I do have some complaints; you have tolerated some among you who are like Balaam who showed Balak how to trip up the people of Israel. He taught them to worship idols eat the food offered to the idols and commit sexual sin. You also have some Nicolaitans among you who follow the same teaching and commit the same sins. I tell you, “Repent, or I will come to you suddenly and fight against them with the sword of my mouth.”Revelation 2:16

There are two things in this letter that stand out to me, Tolerance and Compromise. There are many areas and places we tolerate sin, work, school, home, and even with our friends. At work we might tolerate a co-worker that cusses, gossips, or tells inappropriate jokes or stories, and is negative about the boss. At school we might tolerate cheating, bullying, slander, disrespect to teachers and others in authority. At home we might or we do tolerate disrespect from our children, even in our marriage, we tolerate the inappropriate television shows, things on the internet and even the music we listen to. All these tolerances lead to compromise in our faith!

The Lord demands and requires us to live a life completely committed to Him and His word. No matter where we live, who we are surrounded by at work, school, etc.  We are not to compromise our faith by accepting the lifestyle of those who oppose the Lord or who choose to live according to their own ways. When we participate or fall into pressure of accepting sin we compromise our faith and commitment to the Lord.

Our actions and choices reflect either the Lord or the things of the world. Which do you reflect? The Lord is specifically speaking to us today to not tolerate any sin but to run from it repent and to live a life that reflects Him in all ways and does not compromise our faithfulness to Him. Just as He tells the church in Pergamum I am the one who has a sharp two-edged sword and it cuts both ways, coming and going!

“Anyone who is willing to hear should listen to the Spirit and understand what the Spirit is saying to the churches. Everyone who is victorious will eat of the manna that has been hidden away in heaven. And I will give to each one a white stone, and on the stone will be engraved a new name that no one knows except the one who receives it.” Revelation 2:17

Two amazing gifts awaiting those of us who are willing to hear and listen to the Spirit; manna that has been hidden away in heaven and a white stone with a new name engraved on it that only the Lord and us individually who receive it will know. Isn’t that exciting, let the Spirit within you give you wisdom, insight and understanding to each letter to the churches. And as you receive each of those apply them and live them out!