The Way Back Home

In the second chapter of Revelation, we see four churches outlined. We’ve seen Ephesus, the church who lost their first love. We’ve seen Smyrna, the church who was discouraged but not defeated. We’ve seen Pergamum, the church of worldliness, and finally, Thyatira, the church of false prophecy.

This chapter in Revelation serves as a mirror to us. It causes us to examine ourselves. It is easy to fall into habits that are contrary to God’s Word when they come in forms we do not expect. Spirits of deception are often quiet—they sneak into a corner of our churches or into the closets of our homes and they wait patiently, whispering one little lie, and then another, and then another. We fall into patterns of worldliness, many times without realizing it or without seeing the harm we’re causing. It’s a slow progression. Satan is a master of trickery, and he will cause us to stumble if we’re not on guard.

We need to look into our hearts. Do we see the church of Ephesus, where we are striving and pushing and working for the Kingdom of God, doing all the right things for all the wrong reasons? Have we lost the love we had at the beginning?

Do we look at ourselves and see the church of Pergamum, where we’ve given in to worldly ideas and we’ve allowed our love for men’s applause to become more important than the applause of our Father?

Perhaps we see in us the church of Thyatira, where we tell the world what they want to hear because it makes them feel good, and we’ve deluded the Bible down to a watered version of the truth.

Or maybe, we feel like the church of Smyrna, where we’re toiling and breaking every spiritual bone in our bodies trying to stay strong for God. We’re exhausted, the trials just keep coming and the tribulation never seems to stop, and the Lord keeps letting it happen. We’re running out of steam and we’re in deep discouragement, but He’s saying, “keep going, don’t give up; be faithful.”

What’s the point of it all?

He’s given us these letters to remind us that He’s our way back home.

When we’re out in the water facing battles, dodging waves and fighting currents, Jesus is on the shoreline holding up a torch. He’s standing there holding up a bright flame so that when we stray too far from the shoreline, and riptides creep up to drag us under, Jesus is there to show us the way home. So, keep looking back. Keep your eyes on Him. Don’t get distracted and forget to look up, because you’ll have floated far away without knowing it.

Get back to Him. Follow that light and come back home.