Patiently Endure

Introduction

Remember the fairy tale about Goldilocks and the Three Bears. This young lady invades the house of three bears. In the process of visiting this house she is extremely self-centered. She steals their food, vandalizes their furniture and invades the privacy of their bedrooms. (Well, that’s the “bears” side of things.) Anyway, you’ll remember the phrase that was used in all three circumstances of her eating, sitting and napping. Each bowl of porridge or each chair or each bed was either too “something” or too “something else” or “just right”. While I’m not exactly sure what the point of Goldilocks and the Three Bears is, one thing I do know—wouldn’t it be great if we could know what a “just right” church was.

Sometimes congregations are too small or too large; sometimes they are too liberal or too conservative; sometimes they are too program oriented and or too few programs; you get the idea. How would we know when a church is “just right?” I suppose it comes down to the standard that one uses to judge what is “just right.” Goldilocks used her own standard. It was about her preferences. And in many ways we approach churches that way. Sometimes it does depend upon perspective. We would say the job applicant failed, but it is a matter of perspective. Is there an objective perspective? Yes. Today we are going to look at God’s perspective about what a “just right” church looks like.

The Church

Philadelphia was thirty miles southeast of Sardis on the main trade route from Smyrna on the coast to the east. The city was ideally situated for commerce. It was called the “gateway to the east.” Its volcanic soil was extremely fertile and ideal for growing grapes. As a result it was agriculturally prosperous as well. It was founded sometime after 189 B.C. and named for the king’s brother. This city of “brotherly love” was proud of its origins. The city became a mission point for helping to bring Greek ways and language to surrounding areas. The one problem with the city of Philadelphia was that earthquakes were fairly common. In A.D. 17 an earthquake leveled the city. Numerous aftershocks resulted in the population living outside the city walls to avoid unsafe buildings.

For five years after that devastating earthquake Rome did not collect taxes from Philadelphia in order for the city to rebuild and recover economically. Out of gratitude the city renamed itself “Neocaesarea” for a time and erected a monument in Rome in honor of the Caesar. In the 80s, the city took a new name “Flavia” the name of the imperial dynasty. So the connection between Rome and Philadelphia is well attested.

There was Jewish opposition in the city just as there was in Smyrna. The church in Philadelphia was insignificant to the outside observer. It wasn’t a mega-church; it wasn’t a wealthy church; it wasn’t a proud church. It was in many ways a non-descript church. It was just an average congregation filled with average people who were trying to live as Christians in a non-Christian world. Just average, but listen to what Jesus has to say to them.

Commendation and Promises

Jesus introduces himself with the words that he is holy and true. The word “holy” is often used in the OT in reference to God. Jesus calls himself holy and thus he is set apart from this world. He is completely other and alone is worthy of worship. Jesus is also true. He is real and faithful. He is the one they can count on. He is also the one who holds the key of David. This phrase comes from Isaiah 22. In that text God demands that Eliakim replace Shebna as the chief steward of Hezekiah’s house. Eliakim is given the key of David which is a way of saying that would be given access to the king and his palace. In Revelation, Jesus is using the phrase to say that he holds the key to the entrance of God’s kingdom, the New Jerusalem (3:12). He is the one who has absolute authority to open and close the door. Only he can “shut” and “open” the gates to heaven. When I was a kid, my uncle had a key to the local gymnasium. Do you know how great it was to able to go and visit him and ask to play ball?

In verse 8, Jesus knows their deeds and Jesus places an open door before them. While there is much discussion about what this phrase means, it seems reasonable to leave it in the context in which it is placed. If Jesus holds the key of David and opens and closes the door of heaven as he pleases, then to tell the church at Philadelphia that he has placed an open door for them is the same thing as saying that heaven or God’s kingdom is open to them. The promises in the latter part of this letter verify this meaning. For they are going to have the name of the new Jerusalem written on them.

They have little strength. Small in number; no political power; no prominence in the community. Instead they are looked down on and persecuted. In time, Jesus will make this right. According to verse 10, Jesus is going to keep or protect them in the last day. They are going to be rewarded for their patient endurance in a troubling and difficult time.

In verse 12, to those who overcome (or remain faithful) he will make a pillar in the temple of God. This idea behind the pillar is meant to convey security and permanence. From the background, the people left the city in order to avoid injury from unstable buildings. Those who are faithful will never have to leave.

Also in verse 12, Jesus will write God’s name, the name of the city of God, and his new name on those who overcome. The name of God means that he will belong to God. The new Jerusalem has to do with citizenship. We don’t know the new name, but we will share it with Jesus.

Application

There is only one point I want to make. This text teaches us that God’s perspective is the only standard that matters. The “just right” church is not the one who can boast about their size; their reputation; their programs; their buildings. The “just right” church is the one who keeps God’s word and doesn’t deny the name of Jesus. There are times that we look around at other congregations and think that we are lacking. We compare ourselves and determine that we do not measure up. That kind of thinking is the world’s thinking. Our view of success becomes what is bigger, better, and more exciting. This doesn’t release us from trying to grow or spreading the gospel or trying to reach others with a new method or program, but it does mean that we must measure success in the way that God does rather than the way the world does.

So much of the world has entered our thinking that it is difficult for us to see things in a different way. Can’t you imagine this small group of Christians in the first century? Can’t you imagine how discouraged they must have been? Persecuted; no voice; others controlled their lives; defenseless; uncertain and yet Jesus writes them this letter and says “what others are trying to shut to you I am opening. The real control belongs to me and I open the door to my kingdom to those who hold on to my word and do not deny my name.” Jesus reminds us of what is truly important.

Eternity is not about what we have, the size of the congregation, or however we might measure success. Eternity is ours when Jesus opens the door for us and in this text that door is opened for those who have a different way of looking at life. The “just right” church is the one that holds on to Jesus’s words and do not deny his name.

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