Revelation 3:11 “I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Following a storm an elderly neighbour’s tiles had slipped near the ridge of her roof. After anchoring a ladder and giving it a shake to convince myself it was safe I trusted it and climbed. Near the top I notice how tightly I was gripping each rung, unwilling to let go of one rung before I had a firm hold on the one above it. Once at the top I worked to fix the tiles one hand gripping the ladder whilst I held on with the other — keeping contact at all times. You guessed it, I couldn’t completely let go until the job was finished.
In Revelation 3 we read a promise and request from Jesus to the church in Philadelphia, “I am coming soon, hold on to what you have…” (v.11). Christians then as now are under pressure to and in danger of letting go of our grip on God’s word and trust in His eventual return. Those Christians John wrote to were promised what we too are promised today – a crown, yet at present it’s under threat, “…so that no one will take your crown” (v.11). Paul writes of this crown too, “a crown that will last forever” (1 Corinthians 9:25).
As we negotiate the challenges to our faith, like gripping each rung of a ladder, we can trust in God’s word now, taking encouragement from knowing that Jesus absolute presence is becoming clearer, nearer, and sooner. Then our crown will last forever.
What can you do today that will help you to hold on to the truths of scripture?
My prayer today is this – Father, help me to remain faithful in the present as I wait for a greater revelation of Jesus to come. Amen
Rob Wykes 