DISCOURSE: 2492
THE CHURCH AT THYATIRA
Revelation 2:24-25. But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none of her burden. But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.
IN these words we have an injunction addressed to the more consistent members of the Church at Thyatira. If there were some who had been drawn aside from the path of duty by the seductions of Satan, the great mass of that Church had held fast their integrity, and approved themselves faithful to their God. They had been assaulted, and were yet in danger of being still assaulted, by persons professing a deeper insight into divine truth than others: (in fact, all innovators, whether infidels or heretics, arrogate to themselves superior wisdom, and propose their sentiments under the idea of “depths,” which the poor simple-minded believers have not been able to fathom:) but “the depths” of which these deceivers spake, were “depths of Satan” rather than of God; and the faithful members of that Church rejected with abhorrence the impious sentiments contained in them: and for this they were commended of their God; who says, “I will put upon you none other burden but this;” “What ye have already, hold fast till I come [Note: Compare Acts 15:28. The “burden” relates to that which follows: and so we understand it here.]:” that is, ‘Ye have been faithful in your adherence to me; and all that I require of you is, that you steadfastly persevere in the same course, till I come, at the last day, to attest, and to recompense, your fidelity.
Now, the same injunction is given to the Church in all ages: so that, taking it to ourselves, we may notice,
I. The duty inculcated—
It is here taken for granted, that we have made some progress in the divine life. Now, whatever it be that we have attained, we should “hold it fast.” We should “hold fast,”
1. The truth itself—
[Many at this day, as well as in the apostolic age, exert all their ingenuity to invalidate and subvert the truth. Some will call in question even the divine authority of the Bible: others will deny the divinity of our blessed Lord, and the atonement which he has made for sin. Others again, like the Pharisees of old, will blend the law with the Gospel, as a joint ground of hope before God: whilst others, under an idea of magnifying the grace of God, will deny that the law is to be regarded by us as a rule of life. But we must be on our guard against error of every kind, and “hold fast the form of sound words” which the holy Apostles have delivered unto us [Note: 2 Timothy 1:13.]. The Gospel in itself is extremely simple: ‘We are fallen creatures, deserving of God’s wrath and indignation. The Lord Jesus Christ has come to restore us to the favour and the image of God; to his favour, by making satisfaction for our sins; and to his image, by the influences of his Holy Spirit upon our souls.’ This, I say, is the sum and substance of the Gospel: and though, doubtless, there are depths in it which no finite intelligence can fathom, yet is it so plain, that a very child may comprehend it. Hold this fast then; and, “for the knowledge of it, let all other things be accounted by you as dung and dross.”]
2. The open profession of it—
[We may retain in our minds a regard for the truth, without exciting any uneasy feelings in those who are opposed to it. But, if we profess it openly, and stand forth as avowed servants of Christ, we shall be sure to make ourselves, even as Christ himself was, “a butt of contradiction [Note: Luke 2:34. the Greek.].” No means will be left untried to repress our ardour: menaces, entreaties, promises, expostulations, will all be used in their turn, to withdraw us from our purpose of confessing Christ before men, and of becoming his stated followers. But nothing should induce us to deny Christ, or to put our light under a bushel. Not even life itself should be dear to us, in comparison of the approbation of God and of our own conscience. We must “follow Christ without the camp, bearing his reproach,” and “rejoicing that we are counted worthy to suffer shame for his sake.” In a word, we must be steadfast in the faith, and “hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering [Note: Hebrews 10:23.].”]
3. The sweet experience of it in the soul—
[This is soon lost, and Satan will exert himself in all possible ways to rob us of it. Any sin indulged in the heart will “grieve the Spirit” of God, and provoke our God to “hide his face from us.” Nor is it open sin only that will bring darkness upon the soul: habitual negligence will soon produce the very same effects. If we cultivate not our garden with unwearied assiduity, I need not say that weeds will grow up, and choke the seed that has been sown in it. If we would enjoy the light of God’s countenance, we must “walk with God,” as Enoch did; and “keep ourselves in the love of God,” “holding fast our confidence, and the rejoicing of our hope firm unto the end [Note: Hebrews 3:6.].”]
This being our acknowledged duty, let me call your attention to,
II.
The consideration with which it is enforced—
Much is spoken in Scripture respecting the future advent of our Lord. He will come at the last day, to judge the world in righteousness: and the prospect of that event may well operate on our minds, to keep us steadfast in every part of our duty. For when that shall take place,
1. All opportunity of recovering the ground we have lost will be at an end—
[With respect to ourselves, it matters not whether we be alive at the coming of our Lord or not; for to every individual of mankind, the day of his death will be, in fact, the day of judgment: “there will be no repentance to him in the grave:” on the contrary, “as the tree falls, so it will lie:” “he that is holy, will be holy still; and he that is filthy, will be filthy still.” We may be slumbering, like the foolish virgins; and dreaming of some future period, when we will arise to trim our lamps: but “when the Bridegroom comes, they only who are watching will enter in with him to the wedding; and the door will then be shut;” and all will be excluded for ever who waited not aright for the coming of their Lord. You all know how vain were the efforts of the foolish virgins to procure oil, when once the proper period for obtaining it was past: and so shall we find it, in the day that our Lord shall come, if we be unprepared to meet him. Let this thought stimulate us to watchfulness and zeal, that, “at whatever hour our Lord shall come, we may be found ready.”]
2. Our real state, whatever it may be, will be made known—
[We may appear, both to ourselves and others, to be in a far more favourable state than we really are. In truth, those very delusions which men embrace are often esteemed by them as evidences of superior piety. But the various books which will then be opened—the book of Scripture, the book of conscience, the book of God’s remembrance, and the book of life, will all bear testimony to our real state, and make us to appear in our true colours. If we have declined from the ways of God, whatever those declensions were, or from whatever cause they arose, they will all be noted, and “the Lord’s judgment respecting us be in all things according to truth.” Should we not, then, be on our guard against every device, whether of men or devils, to draw us from our God? Yes, verily, we should “prove all things” with incessant care; and “hold fast,” with invincible firmness, “the thing which is good [Note: 1 Thessalonians 5:21.].”]
3. Our final sentence will then be irreversibly declared—
[The sheep and the goats will then be separated, each for their proper fold. The hypocrite will then have his portion assigned him, and the apostate his, according to the degree in which they have erred from the faith, and to the light against which they have sinned. Hence St. John not only exhorts the steadfast to “look to themselves, that they lose not the things that they have wrought, but that they receive a full reward [Note: 2 John, ver. 8.];” but further gives to the wavering this solemn warning, “Hold fast that thou hast, that no man take thy crown [Note: Revelation 3:11.].”]
Methinks this subject speaks powerfully,
1. To those in early life—
[Who, that reflects on the temptations to which the young are exposed, must not tremble for their state? The world with all its snares, the flesh with all its lusts, the devil with all his devices; who is able to withstand them all? Truly, if it were not that we have an Almighty Friend to uphold us, not one would ever endure to the end. O, cry mightily to God to “bear you up in his arms,” and to “preserve you blameless unto his heavenly kingdom!”]
2. To the more advanced Christian—
[Even you have need to fear, lest, after all you have experienced, like David and like Solomon, you fall. But, methinks, it is no little comfort to you to reflect, that “the coming of your Lord draweth nigh.” Look for him then daily, having your loins girt and your lamp trimmed: so shall you behold his face with joy; and “your labour shall not be in vain in the Lord.”]