Have you ever moved to a new home, opened a drawer, and seen
a keyring with an abundance of keys on it? Did it cause you to wonder which
door, cabinet, or tool shed they opened? After finding them, you found your
curiosity awakened and began walking around your home, garage, and garden
trying one key after another. Very often you found a key that did not pair with
any lock, but you kept it anyway. Sometimes a key fit a lock, but when you unlocked
the object, you found a bunch of someone’s junk. If you were very lucky, a key
would fit a lock on a door or object, like a keepsake box, then you found a
bounty of someone’s treasures through which to peruse, keep and share. This
devotional tells us about a church who found the key that opens the door to
something of more value than all of creation combined.
In Revelation 3:7-13, Jesus spoke to the church at
Philadelphia. This messenger from Jesus spoke for Him. He told them, as John wrote,
several things. First, He said, “I know all the things you do.” (vs. 8) No
one can hide from God what they’ve said, done, or thought. God is everywhere at
the same time and knows all things. Jesus continued speaking by saying, “I
have opened a door no one can shut.” (vs. 7-8 [NLT]) Which door would this
be? Let’s continue reading to gain an understanding to where it leads. Jesus
said to the Philadelphians, “You have little strength (you are mere mortals,
this writer’s interpretation), yet you obeyed My word and did not deny
Me.” (vs 8) Jesus knew them, and He had a reward for them because of their
obedience to Him and not denying being His follower. By which door will
the reward come?
In Revelation 3:10, Jesus continued telling the church at
Philadelphia what He would do for them. He said, “Because you have
obeyed my command to persevere, I will protect you from the
great time of testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who
belong to this world” (to test those who refuse to trust in Jesus as the
Messiah). Jesus commended these believers of Philadelphia and made a
promise to them because of their obedience to Him and perseverance in keeping
His commands. Jesus promised protection. There’s more to protection that hiding,
shutting doors and gates, or defending yourself. Why is He promising to
protect them? Who does He promise to protect?
Verse twelve gives more details about Jesus’ reward
to the believers of Philadelphia. It held more than protection; it held a promise
for eternity. Jesus told the church of Philadelphia of the door opened to
them that cannot be shut and how they would persevere in
obedience to Him and His words even though they were mortals. He said in
Revelation 3:12 [NLT],
“All who are victorious will become pillars in the Temple of my God, and they will never have to leave. And I will write on them the name of my God, and they will be citizens of the city of God-the new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven from my God. And I will also write on them my new name.”
Jesus said He is the door (vs 8) [the which is
the answer to who] to the temple of God. By Him, each person who believes
and perseveres to continue to obey and not deny Him despite persecutions and
temptations, is victorious. [The who He promises to protect.] Believers will
become pillars in the temple of God [the how]. These persevering
believers as pillars would have a firm and abiding place in God’s temple
and will never have to leave it. As pillars in the churches on earth, these
saints uphold other believers by encouraging, teaching, and praying for those
who go through trying times. On these pillars, when they enter through Christ
God’s temple in God’s kingdom, Christ will write the name of God on them, similar
to His writing His laws on the hearts and minds of His people in Hebrews 10:16.
Once people become His disciples, remain obedient to Him, and do not deny Him, then
enter God’s temple in His kingdom, they will always be citizens of the city of
God, the new Jerusalem. God protects believers eternally in His kingdom and as
His children live on earth since Jesus is the head of the church on earth.
(Colossians 1:18)
These promises give hope, but they should lead each person
to ask, “What is the key to receiving these rewards?” This question is
answered by the Who. Jesus, the Son of God, who is wholly God and was
wholly man, is the key. Isaiah 53 tells us about this Son of God. Isaiah 53:11
tells us God’s words to His prophet. He said, “As a result of the anguish of
His (God’s) soul, He will see it and be satisfied; by His knowledge, the
Righteous One, My servant, will justify man, as He will bear their iniquities.”
[NASB]
Jesus makes each believer in Him just/righteous [the how]
so they can be in His presence and have a relationship with Him eternally [the why].
He is our door into God’s presence. (John 10:9 [ESV]) Jesus is the key to
salvation and the kingdom of God. He will welcome each believer into God’s
temple to be pillars, strongholds and towers of strength. The next question is how
does Jesus do this for us?
As we read more of Isaiah 53, we recognize how Jesus
did this for all people. Isaiah 53:10, tells us Jesus made it possible for us
to enter the door into God’s kingdom. It says, “But the LORD (God) was pleased
to crush Him, putting him to grief; if He would render Himself as a guilt
offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, and the good
pleasure of the Lord will prosper His hand.” [NASB] Do not read this as God was
happy at His Son’s death by men. Sin caused Jesus’ crushing because those men
in their fear and jealousy begged Pontius Pilate to sentence Him to death.
Still, God was happy His Son was crushed because it was His plan to redeem
humankind from their sins. Each person who trusts Jesus is the Son of God who
died on the cross as the substitute for his/her own sin penalty and confesses
his/her sin, will be saved. (Romans 10:9)
All humans have sinned since the time of Adam and Eve. God
gives freewill to people. Adam and Eve were the first humans God created and
were the first to sin. Because of God’s love, He gives freewill. Yet, He knew
before He created humans they would rebel against Him, they would sin. So, He
planned for their redemption before the first sin occurred. Redemption is
paying the price required to redeem a person’s life from someone/something that
enslaves him or her. Each person will die. They, each, are sinners and who sin
against God. Their sins condemn them to die an eternal death of separation from
God. So, a sufficient sacrifice to redeem sinners from the eternal death of separation
from God is death, the sacrifice of greater value. Because of this, God sent
His Son to earth to be born in human form, to live a sinless life, and to die a
sinner’s death to release from the bondage of sin and death each person who trusts
He is the Son of God and repents and confesses his or her sins. For this
reason, “The LORD was pleased to crush Him (Jesus), putting Him to grief” as
the guilt offering. (vs 10) As the guilt offering, the Messiah would see His
offspring, those begotten by the redeeming sacrifice Jesus gave. Because of the
anguish of Jesus’ soul for the weight of the sins of the world He carried upon
Him into death, the Righteous One, My (the LORD’s) servant (Jesus) would
justify the many. (vs. 11) Why did God plan for humanity’s redemption and why
did Jesus choose to die for humanity? God loves each person. John wrote in his
gospel, “For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that
whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 [NASB]_
Isaiah 53:10-12 answers the questions of Revelation 3:8, 10,
& 12. It tells us by which door we will get our reward. It tells us why
we will get a reward, because of obedience to Jesus and not denying Him since we
accepted God’s love gift given through Jesus. Revelation 3:12 tells who
will get this reward from God. The big question remained about how this can
be since we humans are willful, rebellious, and sin-stained. Isaiah 53:10-12
tells us how Jesus redeems and saves us.
- Are you one for whom Jesus will open the door to God’s kingdom that no one can shut?
- Have you used the strength God gives each believer to obey Him and not deny Him?
- Are you one whom Jesus calls victorious in Revelation 3:12?
- What will it take for you to become one of the chosen children of God?
Believe Jesus is the Son of God and confess that belief with
your mouth. Confess and repent of your sins. You do not have to do good works,
lead a good life, ask your ancestors to speak a good word on your behalf to
God, or try to hide your sins. Nothing you do, say, or think is hidden from God.
Nothing you do, say, or thing can earn you salvation from your sins and the
penalty of those sins, eternal separation from Him. Jesus said to Martha, “I am
the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he
dies.” (John 11:25)
Just like the Christians of Philadelphia had plenty of keys in
life from which to choose but chose Jesus as their key, you have that same
opportunity. Throw away the other options about how to have a happy life. Those
keys only lead to dirty places, dusty options, and dying hopes. Instead, accept
the key Jesus gives you and let Him open the door to life in God’s temple in
His new Jerusalem. Who needs a keyring with a bunch of keys that lead to
nothing but decay and emptiness? We each need a key that leads us to hope,
peace, love, and eternal life with God.
Now
is your time to examine your heart.
Now
is the time to decide if you will believe Jesus is the Son of God, your Savior.
Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. (1 Peter 1:17-21 [NIV])
Lord, I know I do not deserve the
price You paid just for You to redeem and save me from my rebelliousness
towards you and other people. There is no way You deserved to die in my place.
Please forgive me for being stubborn and willful. Forgive me for refusing to
believe in Jesus Christ as Your Son and my Savior. Lord, I want to be Your child.
I want to walk through the door Jesus opened for me and that He unlocked for me
because of His sinless death and resurrection. I am not worthy, but I confess Jesus
is Your Son and repent and confess of all my many sins. Please, Lord, look upon
me with Your grace and mercy. Forgive me, redeem and cleanse me, and make me righteous
so I can be Your child and be a pillar in Your temple in Your new Jerusalem.
Thank you for your over-abounding love, patience, and forgiveness. Amen.
