Revelation Chapter 3:7-13

1) How does the world define success?  How does God define success?

2) How will you stand up to the trials and challenges of the last days?  What has God promised to do for you during this time?

3) Have you ever been in a setting that you just didn’t want to leave?  What was it?  What made you want to stay?

When we think of success, we think of things that are big and bold.  “Go big or go home,” is a familiar saying in our overachieving American culture.  But Jesus’ words of praise to the church in Philadelphia acknowledge its weakness: “I know that you have little strength.”  But as Jesus continues, we see what it is that is pleasing to Him: “Yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.”  Don’t confuse the standard of success in the world with the standard of success in the Bible.  Faithfulness wins over force any day.

Reading Jesus’ promise in verse 10 at face value indicates we will be spared from all that we will soon read about in the rest of John’s revelation.  While I indeed hope this is the case, this is not what my faith is based on.  God has already done a great work by saving me for all eternity.  Any calamity that might overtake my body will not impact that.  In fact, because of what God has already done through Jesus, we can have the same confidence that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had before King Nebuchadnezzar: “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter.  If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king.  But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”  (Daniel 3:16-18)

To those who overcome, God will give a permanent place in His temple; a setting of peace, comfort and joy.  This is what David longed for; this is what we should long for, as well.  “One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.”  Psalm 27:4