Rev 3:7-9 "And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, 'These things says He who is holy, He who is true, "HE WHO HAS THE KEY OF DAVID, HE WHO OPENS AND NO ONE SHUTS, AND SHUTS AND NO ONE OPENS": (8) "I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. (9) Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you.
You find the strangest things in the military. There was a soldier with no combat experience whatever, he was assigned to guard the post's most dangerous treasure: the ammunition dump. The general was worried about Thieves raiding the place, so he posted computer programmers as guards. He needn't have worried. The ammunition was quite secure—behind a 90 ton steel and concrete door. That door was closed at night, and I seriously doubt the Berkeley radicals would have had the combination to the lock.
When I read this passage it brought to mind that door—a picture of the power of Christ.
He who is Holy—the word means "separate." Christ is totally separated from evil; he is purely righteous.
True—as opposed to false, as in false gods. This Jesus is the real thing.
Keeper of the Key of David—David the king, of course. It means that Jesus alone determines who enters the kingdom of heaven.
He is the one who opens and shuts; the ultimate authority on who gets in to the kingdom of heaven. No one can commit him; but all of us should convey him to all we know.
The church at Philadelphia Of the churches in Revelation, only two—this one and Smyrna—receive nothing but commendation from our Lord. This may seem surprising, as our Lord comments on how little strength they have. We must remember that the power of God is made perfect in weakness—our weakness, to be specific.
How did they achieve this commendation? They used what little strength they had, not being discouraged, and held on to the name of Christ. They did not "get along and go along." Instead, they clung to the name of Christ, and in that name found the power they needed. For this, our Lord opens the door for them. We may see this as the door to heaven; we may see this as the door of evangelism; or any of a number of doors of opportunity. The important thing is this: when he opens that door, no one can shut it. Pray, then, that he opens it for us in our time.
No comments:
Post a Comment