Letter Four

“And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: ‘The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze.‘“ ~Revelation 2:18 

Is there anything more sobering than the fact that Jesus knows our secret heart? He has eyes like a flame of fire, and His penetrating gaze sees the true motives behind our actions and the posture of our hearts toward Him, others, and the world. He knows the tiny corners we cut, the quick glances we cast, the little compromises we make in holiness and obedience. Our whole life — including all the behind-the-scenes bits — is visible to Him.

But He also sees our good works done in faith and empowered by His Spirit. How comforting to know that Jesus acknowledges and delights in our obedience and rewards His people with the Morning Star (Rev. 2:28), which is Himself (Rev. 22:16). What a benevolent Savior, giving Himself in fullness to those who believe!

In Jesus’ commendation of the believers in Thyatira, we see that their love, faith, service, and patient endurance were increasing (“your latter works exceed the first”). This is a mark of Christian maturity — that our love for the brethren, obedience to Christ, and joy in hardship are ever-increasing. The Christian life is one of growth and progress. What an example to the church today!

Another remarkable feature of this letter is that, while Jesus is preparing to administer discipline, He encourages and commends His people. This is no mere “compliment sandwich,” which can sometimes reflect a fear of man and a desire to soften truth. Rather, it is a true expression of His mercy, love, and delight in His people. Sometimes we are far too eager to criticize and far too slow to encourage. Perhaps we think we are better judges than Christ. 

The church in Thyatira was far from perfect. They had begun to tolerate sexual impurity and idolatry. Someone, or perhaps a group of teachers, was encouraging compromise with the culture for acceptance. “Let’s not cause our neighbors to think we’re strange or stuck-up. We don’t want to be a church of holy hermits. After all, grace abounds, so holiness can’t be that urgent!”

This is a real threat to churches and Christians today. Sometimes out of fear we try to look like the world to fly under its radar. Sometimes out of a desire to “belong” we join its revelry for acceptance. Sometimes out of sinful desire we live like the world, because, if we are honest, we want to. In the end, it comes down to this: do we love Christ more than the approval of the world? For where Christ is truly loved, His commandments will be kept (John 14:15).

Out of love, Jesus calls His people to repent of compromise, to hold fast to the faithful teaching of His Word, and to long for the reward of life in glory with Him. And this life of repentance and perseverance rests wholly on His gospel: He has purchased us with His blood, that we might be forgiven of all our sins and restored from even our deepest compromise.

Rev. Kyle Lockhart, Pastor