There are two very important characteristics of
the overcomer presented in Revelation 3—clear, simple, and easily
grasped. The first is
the truth that has been
communicated to us. Thus in verse three the Lord warns the
assembly in Sardis to “Remember therefore how thou hast received and
heard, and keep [it] and repent”. The second is
the hope that is set before
us. Hence in verse eleven He tells the Philadelphians that
“I come quickly”.
We find these two things illustrated in
Israel’s history, and in the history of the Church of God—what
God has given us, and
what is held out before us.
These two things are to form your character and mine. We are not to
be swayed by the character of things around us, or the present
condition of the people of God, but we are to be influenced by what
God has given, and what He will give. We have a tendency to be
discouraged and disheartened by the current state of things, and to
be tempted to surrender everything because of the ruin. However, if
you get hold of these two things, (or rather if they get hold of
you), they will enable you to stem the tide, and to be an overcomer
instead. You are to remember what you have received and heard, and
to cherish the hope of glory to come.
The assembly in Sardis (see Rev. 3: 1–6) is an
apt illustration of what happened in Protestantism following the
Reformation (or indeed, what has happened after every revival
since). That glorious season of visitation was a distinct work of
the Spirit of God—but when the energy and freshness of the Spirit
had departed, what followed? Why, people slipped into half–dead
formality. The outward form was maintained, but it was merely a
powerless shell. So what is our safeguard against this? Simply to
hold fast what we have received, and to live in the blessed hope of
Christ’s coming—to realize in our own souls the power of what God
has given and what He will soon give.
All the great reformatory movements in Israel
were characterized by recognising and acting on what had been
revealed. In the days of Josiah, a child was on the throne, a woman
was filling the prophetic office and Nebuchadnezzar was almost at
the gates. What did Josiah do? The book of the covenant was read
(see 2 Kings 23: 2). Instead of lowering the standard on account of
the state of things, he acted on the Word of God—that was his
standard of action. The result was “there was no passover like to
that holden in Israel from the days of Samuel the prophet; neither
did all the kings of Israel hold such a passover as Josiah held” (2
Chron. 35: 18).
Again, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
gained a magnificent victory when they refused to eat the king’s
delicate food (see Daniel 3: 8–16). They would not deviate one
hair’s breadth from the Word of God. Were they not overcomers? They
might have said, ‘God in His governmental dealings has sent us into
captivity. We need to adapt to the circumstances in which God has
placed us’. But no, they were enabled to hold up the standard of God
in the midst of the ruin around.
If any of these had surrendered, they would
have lost their victories, and God would have been dishonoured. All
this bears upon us in a very distinct way in the midst of
Christendom. It makes the Word of God of unspeakable value to us. It
is not a question of setting up our own opinion or authority, but
simply maintaining the truth of God and nothing else. If you do not
get hold of that, you will not know where you are. It might have
been said to Josiah when he broke down the high places built by
Solomon (see 2 Kings 23: 13) ‘Who are you, to set yourself up
against Solomon, and the institutions set up by a great man like
him?’ But it was not a question of Josiah versus Solomon, but of God
versus error.
Now, as to our second great principle, namely,
that our character is also to be formed by what is before us—the
coming of the Lord. The two go together: the Word of the Lord and
the hope of His coming. Sadly the assembly in Sardis, instead of
being cheered by the hope of the “bright [and] morning star” (Rev.
22: 16), is warned, “If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come
[upon thee] as a thief, and thou shalt not know at what hour I shall
come upon thee” (Rev. 3: 3). This is how He will come upon the
world—as a thief. True believers belong to the region of light—our
proper hope is the Morning Star, which is only seen by those who are
watching during the night.
This is what Protestantism is threatened
with—and what you and I are threatened with—if we let ourselves go
down with the stream of the world like dead fish. The Lord is surely
awakening the hearts of His people to a deeper sense of these
things. He would have them see that nothing will do except reality.
If we don’t have this, then we have nothing. It is one thing to have
doctrines in the mind, and another thing altogether to have Christ
in the heart and in the life. Herod “was troubled, and all Jerusalem
with him” (Matt. 2: 3) at the news of the “hope of Israel” (Jer. 14:
8) being born—even though they were ostensibly waiting for Him. How
great the contrast with Simeon and Anna (see Luke 2: 22–38)!
If He is coming for me, then I have to watch
for the bright and Morning Star. So let my heart rise up, and
overcome the condition of things around! If I find saints in a low
condition, then I must seek to rouse them out of it. If you want to
instruct saints, you must bring them back to the truth both you and
they have received—what God gave at the beginning. Build on what God
has given you, and on the hope that is set before you. The great
question is: ‘Are you prepared to abandon everything that will not
bear the test of the Word of God and to take your stand on that?’
Hold fast the standard of the truth of God, and
do not accept anything less, even though you may be alone. Even if a
regiment were cut to pieces, and only one man left, if he hold the
colours, then the dignity of the regiment is maintained. We must
live in the light of the Lord’s return for that will keep our walk
pure and pleasing to Him, for “every one that has this hope in him
purifies himself, even as
he is pure” (see 1
John 3: 3). It is not a question of outward results, but of being
true to Christ, and of being really alive in a religious scene which
is characterized by having “a name that thou livest, and art dead”
(Rev. 3: 1). We want something more than mere profession, and the
Lord demands more. Even the breaking of bread may become an empty
formality. We want more power and freshness, more living
devotedness to the Person of Christ. We are called to overcome. The
hearing ear in the addresses to the seven assemblies is found only
with the overcomer. May our hearts be stirred up to ensure we are
such!
