May 17: THE SEVEN LETTERS IN RETROSPECT (part 6)

These things says He who: holds the seven stars in His right hand, walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands…is the First and the Last, was dead and came to life…has the sharp two-edged sword…has eyes like a flame of fire and feet like fine brass…has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars…is holy, is true, has the key of David, opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens…is the Amen and the Faithful and True Witness, the beginning of the creation of God. Revelation 2:1,8,12,18; 3:1,7,14

The unique introductions that the Lord Jesus used for Himself as He began each letter are meant to gain the undivided attention of His audience in regards to just Who it is behind these life-or-death messages; all for the purpose of developing a heaven-worthy character in His people. He is our Leader. As soldiers in the army on the side of righteousness, each person has, at some point in his or her life, declared love for Jesus. He is the Commander in Chief of this vast army which also includes billions of angels. Ideally, people’s love for Him increases throughout their earthly lifetime, steadily moving towards a deeper desire to grasp and internalize just what it is that He is saying. In this scenario of determined obedience to His word, development of character is steadily trending upwards.

In a woeful contrast to the ideal, the majority of leaders and laity in today’s churches have constructed a veritable litany of excuses not to keep, honor, or obey the instructions of Infinite Wisdom. If you have applied the recommended eye salve (3:18), and spot yourself while panning the majority, take heart! The simple lineup of Jesus’s descriptions of Himself in these introductions will aid you in better perceiving the character of One who marks the narrow path for His beloved people to tread. He sees it all, loves us anyway, and supplies us with every solution necessary for overcoming this broken world and our wayward selves. He is the Author of salvation. His goal for us is to make it through alive while bringing others along.

The Christ of the Bible is the ‘Who’ behind all that matters! Savor this promise for overcomers:

When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Colossians 3:4