The Church with Reason to Fear - Overcoming

About a year and a half ago, I took the Enneagram test. This test gives you a number between 1 and 9; I discovered I am a 6. I was told by someone who teaches about Enneagram that the test isn’t usually accurate, and we need to investigate to find which number we actually are.  When I read the book The Road Back to You: An Enneagram Journey to Self-Discovery about the different types, I discovered that my test was, indeed, accurate. I am a 6.

The book says, “Sixes are wonderful, but they too have a shadow side they need to guard against. Sixes’ deadly sin is fear, and they suffer a deep-seated need to feel secure” (191).

Fear and a need for security are real. We all feel this way at some time or another. But some of us let fear rule our lives and our decisions and carry the baggage of anxiety every day.

The church in Smyrna, in Revelation 2:8-11, had every reason to fear. The church's people lived in a Roman-dominated culture, which expected them to bow down to the emperor and worship him as a god. They were surrounded by people who were eager to do so. Smyrna also had a large Jewish population who were very anti-Christian and slandered them. It was difficult for Christians to survive.

In this passage, Jesus tells the church that He sees what is happening. He knows their afflictions, their poverty, and that they are being slandered. He also knows it will get worse before it gets better. He tells them in verse 10, “Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown” (NIV).

In verse 10, Jesus tells them first, “Do not be afraid…”  This is the most used command in the Bible. God really wants us all to know we don’t need to fear, no matter what we face.

Some sixes are always looking at the worst-case scenario and planning accordingly so that their worst fears will not become reality. However, the worst-case scenario for the church in Smyrna is their reality, so how can Jesus tell them not to be afraid?

Jesus can tell them and tell us not to fear because even though the reality of our situations can cause us fear, Jesus is the greater reality and the Savior over our fear and everything that might cause it, and He leaves them and us with promises.

The first promise is that this time will be temporary. “...and you will suffer persecution for ten days” (10b NIV). Ten days is not literal, but it means a short period of time. 

The second promise is eternal life for the faithful. “…and I will give you life as your victor’s crown” (10c NIV). Because of Christ and His sacrifice of Himself, our issues and concerns in life and our suffering (persecution, health, finances, etc.) are temporary, but our hope is eternal. Even if our afflictions last us the rest of our earthly lives, that is a short amount of time compared to eternity with no end with Jesus!

Pray:

Lord, you see and know the afflictions that I suffer. Some of these cause fear. I want to obey you and overcome the fear, but that is hard. Please help me trust you and your plan. Thank you for the promises that this is temporary. You are with me now, and I will eventually be with you for eternity. In Jesus' name, Amen.