Revelation 2:12-13

This is the message from the one with the sharp two-edged sword: “I know that you live in the city where Satan has his throne, yet you have remained loyal to me.”

The city of Pergamum was famous for its commitment to emperor worship. It had three temples that were exclusively devoted to the Roman emperor. Although it didn’t have the long history and grandeur of Ephesus, Pergamum was the Roman capital of this region. It was here that the proconsul lived, who had the power of life and death. This was a supremely difficult place for Christians to live and worship, so the commendation from the risen Lord was all the more powerful. Even though Satan appeared to be in charge, they had remained loyal to the Lord.

JRR Tolkien, the author of [itals]The Lord of the Rings[end itals], wrote: “Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens.” It is easy to be loyal and faithful when times are good and the going is easy, but the test is what you do when night comes. The Lord looks for followers to be loyal whatever the circumstances, whatever the weather and however great the opposition. The Christians of Pergamum had stood the test and continued to be faithful.

The most beautiful illustration of loyalty in the Bible is that of Ruth in the Old Testament. When her husband died, her mother-in-law, Naomi, encouraged her to go back to her family home in Moab, but Ruth steadfastly refused. Ruth was committed to Naomi, whatever happened. She said: “Wherever you go, I will go, wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried” (Ruth 1:16-17). Nothing would break her loyalty to her mother-in-law, and she stayed true to her word.

Loyalty in all relationships is wonderful to see, but no loyalty is more important than our loyalty to the Lord.

Question

Why is loyalty so important?

Prayer

Loving God, thank you that you have always been faithful to me. Help me to always be faithful to you, however great the distractions and pressures of life. Amen