Grains of Sand

Google Images The second gift of Christmas is sandwiched between two statements that seem, at first glance, to have little to do with anything good. John copied down the message that God had given him for the church in Smyrna. This church was located in what is modern day Turkey in what was a strategic port city and trading centre. The message begins with a reference to the death and resurrection of Christ, not particularly ominous until we read the last part of the message which says: “ He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death ” (Revelation 2:11b). The “bread” in this “sandwich” leaves us with the feeling that the “meat” might not be something that will tickle our taste buds. And we’d be right about that. God’s message to Smyrna was “ Be faithful, even to the point of death ” (2:10). The believers in this city were going to have their faith severely tested. They were going to be persecuted; some were going to die. The assurance at the beginning of the message, ...