“Grant that I, Lord, may not be anxious about earthly things, but love things heavenly; and even now, while I am placed among things that are passing away, hold fast to those that shall endure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.”
This was the prayer that was assigned for the day out of one of the prayer books I use. It struck me today in particular, because it has one of the strong themes found in the book of Revelation. In fact, this is one of the prayers I include in the study materials because I think it is helpful for us to pray it as we contemplate the teachings of this book.
Last night at our Bible study, we covered chapters 2 and 3 of Revelation and in those letters to the 7 churches we have a strong call to remain faithful to Christ in spite of the trials and temptations of this world. One of the churches that had the appearance of doing well was Sardis. The end of verse 1 in chapter three reads, “I know your works; you have a name of being alive, but you are dead.” What a contrast! Things appear one way on the surface, but the deeper reality and spiritual reality is another thing all together. The church looks like it has things all together, but Christ says that they are dead. Have you ever felt this way? Have you ever held things together on the surface, but the reality was that you were in trouble? The way the churches got into this trouble in the first century was compromising with idolatry. The way we get into trouble turns out to be the same. What idols have a hold of your heart?
As you study these letters to the 7 churches, you realize how profound the challenge is. In the letter to the church in Smyrna, we find almost the exact opposite of Sardis. Chapter 2 verse 9 says, “I know your affliction and your poverty, even though you are rich.” Again we find that the situation on the outside or on the surface can be drastically different than reality. They are under affliction and they are poor materially, but Jesus tells them they are rich because they are faithful. Has your faith ever cost you anything? It cost the church in Smyrna.
Revelation challenges the way we see reality. That is one of the big messages in the book. And that message matches up with today’s prayer, where we are called to pray that the Lord would grant us to love heavenly things and not those earthly things that are passing away. The challenge is that we are being sold a lie as to what things are of ultimate importance. We are tempted to hold fast to things that are temporary. May we have eyes to see that which is eternal and the faith in Christ to hold fast. May God grant us the heart to love those things that are heavenly, so that when Christ looks upon us, he will tell us the reality is that we are rich in him.