April 13: BUILDING WITH LIVING STONES

“I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first.” Revelation 2:19

Jesus lovingly acknowledges His followers in the church of Thyatira for their works, love, service, faith, and patience. Each of these five aspects of the Christian life are precious traits of tremendous value in God’s kingdom. While it may be possible to temporarily feign one or two of these traits, the bomb of impatience is so easily detonated, revealing a disingenuous character. But these followers of Jesus in the church of Thyatira were genuine. Their characters became the ‘modes of transportation’ that successfully bore the light of God’s salvation during dark times.

The challenge which created an upward incline of works presented itself early on, as indicated in verse 20 (tomorrow’s opener). But also, the prophetic aspect of church history enters the picture with the statement: “as for your works, the last are more than the first.” The long history of this period in the church includes a terrible record of great tribulation aimed at true believers. Slanderous accusations against them, along with fraud and layers of deception were put forth as religion. What started out as compromise with outside influences devolved into a downward spiral of corruption and secrecy inside the church. But because of faithful perseverance of true followers of Jesus, many of whom had to flee for their lives into the wilderness (see Revelation 12:6,14), reformers arose as the centuries wore on. Like Jesus, they were rejected by the very institution from which they came. Their efforts to share the Gospel with the world were met with increasingly severe opposition. Labors in the field of harvest during later times of the twelve hundred and sixty years were indeed more than the first.

So we begin to see a crucial shift in church history from Pergamos to Thyatira: whereas the threats against the precepts of Christ were imposed from outside influences in Pergamos, the threat grew more insidious and deadly in the church of Thyatira—spiritually deadly—because these threats against the precepts of Christ were being propagated from within.

The reformers were not necessarily aware of the lasting impact of their actions. Nevertheless, a motive of love for their Creator and Savior found its expression in loving service with great patience toward their fellow man. Today, we can look in hindsight with clarity upon the blessings conferred onto later generations by these laborers. What a privilege awaits us: to meet those upon whose shoulders we stand! God, in perfect faithfulness, has continued building His spiritual house with living stones. The Christian standard which includes good works, love, service, faith, and patience has been held up like a bright banner, revealing the truth of God’s saving, transforming power for all the world to see.

Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:4-5