Revelation 2:12-17  God judges not our outer form of godliness or zeal but our inner posture of the heart

Revelation 2:12-17  God judges not our outer form of godliness or zeal but our inner posture of the heart

“And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write:

The One who has the sharp two-edged sword says this:

‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is; and you hold fast My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit acts of immorality. So you also have some who in the same way hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Therefore repent; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.’

Background

The church in Pergamum is somewhat similar to Ephesus in that both are faithful to some extent. Comparing the two, the church in Pergamum dwelled under the nose of Satan and experienced extreme persecution. Whereas the church in Ephesus had only to contend with false teachers. Indeed, the Pergamum church displayed perseverance and power in resisting Satan’s attacks. However, Christ had harsher words for the Pergamum believers as compared to those at Ephesus. For even though they have been saved by Christ and welded spiritual authority, they are again entangled with sin. Against them, Christ calls for judgment by His two-edged sword. Some in the church today are likened to the believers in Pergamum. They portray an appearance of zeal and godliness but do not seek His fullness. If left uncorrected, many will end up losing God while serving Him. Therefore, we must remember to put the endeavour of knowing God above serving Him. Today’s devotion reminds us: God judges not our outer form of godliness or zeal but our inner posture of the heart.

Observation

The One who has the sharp two-edged sword says this:

The two-edged sword is a symbol of ultimate judgment. It is carried by one who is anointed with divine authority to execute judgment on earth. 

Let the high praises of God be in their throats and two-edged swords in their hands, to execute vengeance on the nations and punishments on the peoples – Psalm 149:6

The two-edged sword lays bare the thoughts and intents of the heart to warrant the judgment due them:

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. – Hebrews 4:12

‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is and you hold fast My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 

The church in Pergamum dwells under the nose of Satan’s throne (the centre of Satanic influence) even though the nature of their persecution is not as explicitly described as that of the church in Smyrna. Christ commends them for being faithful and in their use of spiritual authority to resist Satan’s attacks. Despite the very public execution of Antipas, they remain steadfast in the service for Christ.

But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit acts of immorality. So you also have some who in the same way hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans.

In spite of their faith and power, they have a serious flaw which they must repent from. For some among them hold the teaching of Balaam. Balaam is a prophet who tries to stop the advance of Israel towards the promised land. Balaam for the sake of personal gain counselled Balak to defeat Israel by seducing them into idolatry and immorality with Moabite women. What is the teaching of Balaam?

Jude 11-13 describes the error of Balaam as waterless clouds, fruitless trees, wandering stars about to be destroyed.

2 Peter 2:15-21 describes the way of Balaam as waterless springs, promise of freedom but are slaves of corruption, and having been saved by Christ and are again entangled with sin. Hence, their last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them.

The teaching of Balaam touts the benefits of salvation without the realisation of a sanctified life. It exploits God’s grace and power by opening the door to sin and idolatry. Followers of Balaam extol God’s love in bringing forgiveness, blessings and salvation. At the same time, they make idolatry and sin the way of life. To the followers of Balaam, God’s grace is the means to an idolatrous life without the guilt or consequences. Idolatry does not literally mean the worship of idols. It refers to the mentality of an idol worshiper in lusting after money and sensuality.

Therefore repent; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth.

What does repentance involve? It involves averting their fixation from an outward form of godliness towards an inward transformation of the heart. The way of Balaam is such an abomination that Christ has to “make war against them” which is to condemn and destroy. 

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.’

Christ refers to overcomers as those who are steadfast in the face of persecution and who resisted the way of Balaam. It is very probable that the presentation of the manna and stone is part of the believers’ initiation into the kingdom. What is the hidden manna and the white stone? The hidden manna is food that is unlike any food on earth. It brings supernatural life and vitality to the eater. The stone cannot stand by itself, but must be understood with the new name inscribed on it. The new name confers to the possessor a glorious identity as God’s son to reign with Him forever. 

Truth

God judges not our outer form of godliness or zeal but our inner posture of the heart.

Christ commends the believers in Pergamum for being steadfast in worshiping and serving God despite persecution. However, their worship and service did not reflect the characteristics and values of the God they served. Some in the church today are likened to the believers in Pergamum. They portray an appearance of zeal and reverence towards God but fail to manifest His fullness.

An outward form of praise

Such praise Christ for His holiness, but do not seek to be holy as He is holy. Such praise Christ for His sacrificial love, but they love the world and its pleasures. Such praise Christ for His wisdom, but do not seek to know His mind to follow His ways. Such praise Christ for His omnipotence, but will not acquire His authority to do His work. Such praise Christ for having God’s fullness, but will not develop and manifest Christ’s fullness within them. Hence, Christ rejected their worship and warned them to repent lest He comes to destroy them.

An outward form of love

Paul speaks of the culture of the last days. The culture that is fixated on self while putting on an appearance of love and godliness:

But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these. – 2 Timothy 3:5.

Such a culture has infiltrated the church. This can be observed by the demand for churches that tout God’s love in fulfilling the individual’s desire over God’s kingdom purposes. When Jesus provided the people with food for their stomach, He attracted a large crowd who wanted to make Him king. But when He refused and provided them with food for their soul, they started to leave Him. People love Jesus outwardly, but inwardly, they are lovers of self.  

An outward form of zeal

Many church members offer their time and resources to serve God, but inwardly, they serve themselves. Many speak in tongues, but they are praying in accordance to the flesh, not in accordance to the Spirit. One’s zeal in God’s name is not always an indication of one’s spirituality. 

There are bible students who are so “deep” into God’s word that they come to care nothing for God Himself. Such are interested in the word for the sake of knowledge. There are evangelists and missionaries who are so occupied with spreading Christianity that they rarely give a thought for God or for people. Such are interested in evangelism for the sake of converting as many as they can. There are also the rich who organise charities and yet have lost all love for the poor. Such are interested in philanthropy because they want to be seen as a kind and successful person. No wonder Jesus said,

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’ – Matthew 7:21-23

Serving God vs knowing God

Therefore, we must remember to seek intimacy with God above serving Him. The endeavour of knowing God (or communion with God) must always come before serving God. When we do that, we are transformed little by little into God’s image to manifest His fullness. Without knowing God, those who desire to be holy, will come across as self-righteous; their zeal will come across as showing off; their kindness as patronising and their giftedness as self-elevating. By seeking His face above serving Him, we will begin to manifest His fullness and impact the world in the greatest way possible.

Application

How do we seek His face and impact the world with the fullness of His love, wisdom and power? 

• By being ready to walk away from the service we love so much. Unless my natural love for service dies and is buried, it will not rise again to bear fruit. Unless I love God above spiritual gifts, I will not manifest the glory of Christ. 

• By truly rejoicing in the mighty works done through others, not through me only. Unless I put down the wrong sense of ownership and put on the kingdom mentality, I cannot enter God’s kingdom.

Dear Lord, cause me to be changed on the inside to bear your likeness, so that I may change the world by your love, wisdom and power. In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.