Christ's command-exhortation and commendation of these Christian's remains for us as well! "Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown-of-life." (Revelation 2:10b)
What needs to change about your faith, so that you might stand against the persecution, resist idols? What are you willing to endure: hate filled slander, extreme poverty, imprisonment, or even death? If a demand to renounce Christ was put on you, how would you respond?
Be Encouraged…like the Christians of Smyrna, the Crown of Life (Victors Crown of Eternal Life); No Second Death (Eternal Punishment; Contrast=Eternal Life against, Eternal Punishment); the difference between those who know Christ, and those who do not! God will cause us to Remain Faithful!
Regarding those who threaten to silence, imprison, torture, and kill you, Jesus exhorts His first 12 followers... “So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. (Matthew 10:26-28)
Polycarb (160AD) Refused to bend a knee, or sacrifice to other gods! Excerpts from a letter that captured eyewitness accounts of Polycarbs myrtardum at 82 years old.
As Polycarp was being taken into the arena, a voice came to him from heaven: “Be strong, Polycarp and play the man!” No one saw who had spoken, but our brothers who were there heard the voice. When the crowd heard that Polycarp had been captured, there was an uproar. The Proconsul asked him whether he was Polycarp. On hearing that he was, he tried to persuade him to apostatize, saying, “Have respect for your old age, swear by the fortune of Caesar. Proconsul, “reproach Christ, and I will set you free.” “86 years have I have served him,” Polycarp declared, “and he has done me no wrong. How can I blaspheme my King and my Savior?”
“I have wild animals here,” the Proconsul said. “I will throw you to them if you do not repent.” “Call them,” Polycarp replied. “It is unthinkable for me to repent from what is good to turn to what is evil. I will be glad though to be changed from evil to righteousness.” “If you despise the animals, I will have you burned.” “You threaten me with fire which burns for an hour, and is then extinguished, but you know nothing of the fire of the coming judgment and eternal punishment, reserved for the ungodly. Why are you waiting? Bring on whatever you want.”
“O Lord God Almighty, the Father of your beloved and blessed Son Jesus Christ, by whom we have received the knowledge of you, the God of angels, powers and every creature, and of all the righteous who live before you, I give you thanks that you count me worthy to be numbered among your martyrs, sharing the cup of Christ."
Let us join Polycarb, a pastor at Symrna and NOT BE DETERED from making our King and His rescuing Love know & felt!