Equipping University

People like to give nicknames to their favorite cities. In America, we have the Big Apple, the Windy City, the Motor City, the Big Easy, Sin City, the Mile High City, the Queen City, and the City of Progress. Most city nicknames try to highlight a memorable aspect of that city's history or lifestyle. Most cities are proud of their nicknames, although many have derogatory alternatives like Cleveland's "Mistake by the Lake." Even Las Vegas revels in its otherwise shameful nickname. However, the ancient city of Pergamum received a nickname from Jesus that it would surely not agree with or appreciate. Jesus referred to Pergamum as "the city where Satan dwells." This nickname reveals much of what the Christians in this city were facing at the time John wrote these words.

In his words to the church in Smyrna, Jesus does not promise to save them from physical death or even that things will get better. In fact, Jesus does nothing! He allows their suffering to continue and worsen. Why?

Have we not been told all our lives that Jesus will rescue us and keep us from suffering? Are these not the conditions under which many agree to come into a relationship with Christ? Are there not many in the church today who think that if they do their part (attend church, read their Bible on occasion, give some amount to the church), then God will do his part (make our life better)? We must come to a place where we understand and accept a biblical understanding of suffering before such suffering arrives in our lives. It is important to know God���������������������������s heart before we face suffering, so that we may understand our suffering in light of God���������������������������s love for us and in light of Christ���������������������������s suffering on the cross instead of interpreting God���������������������������s heart towards us in light of our suffering. If we wait until the persecution comes to ponder God���������������������������s plan, we will most likely come to the wrong conclusions.The letter to Smyrna gives us insight we need should the Lord ever allow such suffering to come our way.