There is a game that children played, at least when I was younger, called hide and seek. The object was for one person to cover their eyes and count to 100 while everyone else sought a hiding place, then the one counting would shout, ready or not here I come, and begin to search out the other friends one by one. Everyone who has not found a hiding place—they are immediately counted out. I say this to illustrate the fact that Jesus is coming, He will judge, and that will happen whether we as an individual, or we as a church are ready or not. Paul wrote, “No one can hide from God. His eyes see everything we do. We must give an answer to God for what we have done” (Heb. 4:13). When Jesus comes we know this, there will be no place to hide—so we better get it right. Jonah though he ran, he was found by God.
We don’t know when the Lord will come, but I can almost here Jesus “Ready or not, here I come”. In our lesson today—we will focus on just that—are we ready or not—or spiritually speaking when Jesus does come will we be found “Faithful or Not!”
The term faithful can be deceiving—because the church can be faithful in many ways—and still be found unfaithful—and utterly lost. This is important and will be understood more clearly when we read about some of the churches in Revelation. You may be surprised to hear that Just having the right name on the building doesn’t constitute faithfulness. I as shameful as it is, when you count all churches with the name “Church of Christ”, most are not faithful in all things. Just consider only two of the seven churches mentioned in Revelation 2 and 3were faithful. That is 78% were unfaithful. There are thousands of church buildings with the name, “church of Christ”, in Ohio, within 5 miles of here I know of 5 congregations wearing the name—none of which are sound churches. Are we in the minority or the majority? When this local church is examined from Heaven above, what will Jesus instruct the angel to say to the church of Christ in Bedford? Let’s consider just two examples from the seven and then I’ll make some other observations.
First, look with me in chapter 2 beginning at verse 4: Will Jesus find us to be a loveless church like Ephesus and instruct the angel to the church in Bedford to write, “4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.” Notice in verses 2 and 3 the compliments and words of praise. This church was debating false teachers, especially false apostles, and marked them as “liars.” Notice terms persevered, patience, labored and not become weary. This church is real, sincere, genuine—today we might say they were “on fire for the Lord”? Without doubt they were involved in good works—but still Jesus didn’t count them faithful? Why? Because they left their first love—they forgot to do the first works. What does it mean “they left their first love”? For one thing it means that the members of that church are simply going through the motions of spirituality. They attend services; they give money; they perform token efforts of “good works.” It means they draw near the Lord with their mouth; they honor him with their lips, but their heart is far from Him. Because of this their worship is vain, empty, lifeless (Matt. 15:8-9). This is very serious—because it does happen to churches that were once on fire—that is clear by the words of the Spirit “Remember therefore from where you have fallen” (v.5). NOTE: You can’t fall from a place you never were. I wish I had never heard the saints say to me—I remember when this congregation had to set up folding chairs to accommodate so many members. The only “if only” that works is “If only every member of the church would remember from where they have fallen; repent and do the first works”
So, a church can be doing many things right—but still be counted unfaithful. Let’s look at one more. Will Jesus find this local church to be a compromising church as with the church in Pergamos – Rev. 2:12-17. Will the angel say to the church in Bedford, “Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth” (v.16). VERY IMPORTANT: Both were churches of Christ—both doing some things right—both found unfaithful.
What we must devote ourselves to is the work God ordained and nothing more so that, we will be as the church in Philadelphia? (Rev. 3:7-13). Will Jesus say, “and to the angel of the church in Bedford Ohio write, I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name. I pray this is so.
That is the vision recorded by John in chapter 21 and verse 2: “John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband” . That is the universal church of Christ—the spiritual body which is the bride of Christ. I want to be in that number—you want to be in that number—and that will only happen if this church is faithful and obedient.
So let me expound on a few things that every church does—but they in themselves do not make for a faithful church. Example: A local church may hold fast to teaching and preaching accurately the word of God, but add human teaching, traditions. That is not a faithful church. A local church may carefully observe to worship in spirit and truth—sighting book chapter and verse (Rom. 4:3), be known for its love—(1 Thess. 4:9). The church may have members that give generously and cheerfully (2 Cor. 8:3b-6), and members that have perfect attendance (Acts 2:46). The local church might have a great reputation for being a sound church like the church at Sardis in Revelation 3 and verse 1. That church had a name, a reputation for being alive—yet Jesus said they were dead. Any and all of these may be true in any given local church of Christ—but even if the church is faithful in all these things—it can still fall short of the ultimate goal—which is to be taken up and spend eternity in Heaven with the Father and the Son—and we’ll finally see the face of God – (Rev. 22:4).
When all is said and done, in the eyes of the Lord, will He find us, “Faithful or Not”? This question must be asked, and we must give an answer—good or bad—we must answer.
“And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” (Heb. 4:3). “Before I even speak a word, you know what I will say” (Psa. 139:4 CEV). “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, Keeping watch on the evil and the good” (Prov. 15:3), and finally, “For My eyes are on all their ways; they are not hidden from My face, nor is their iniquity hidden from My eyes” (Jer. 16:17). If the answer is yes—then we must just continue to do what we have been doing. If the answer is no—then we must come together and resolve what is lacking and eliminate everything that is in discord with God’s will for this church.
Are we as a church doing the work God has called us to do according to the scriptures? Remember the command, “But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry” (2 Tim. 4:5). We all know what the work is—I hope not one here in this congregation couldn’t answer that question. We know the three works that every church of Christ is to be faithfully performing—Benevolence, Evangelism, and Edification. We will be studying these in another lesson in more detail, but for now it is just important that we all with the unity of the spirit agree—there are three things this church is commanded to be involved—as a church—Benevolence, Evangelism, and Edification. We must not do more as a church than these—and if we aren’t doing more then, we are faithful in that. But listen carefully: If we aren’t doing these three things as a church—then we are not a faithful church of Christ. The question is are we as a local church doing the work we are called to do? Are we executing them according to the command?
Let’s strive to be faithful in all things that the Lord our God commands us.