When life presents trouble as it sometimes can there are many different ways that those around us can be of help. Maybe a word of encouragement, a pat on the back, or a listening ear. One avenue of encouragement that is becoming even more prevalent in the age of social media is a note. I am amazed to see the number of times every day that someone has received bad news of some sort only to be inundated with messages on Facebook intended to show them support. Of the many things in life that can cause frustration and pain having to suffer for your faith ranks close to the top. No one knew what that was like any better than those Christians in the first century under the reign of Rome. But God sent them a note of encouragement to sustain them through the toughest times. That note was contained in Revelation 14:13 and is the text of our sermon starter this week.
Title: A Note from Heaven
Text: Revelation 14:13
Main Point: Often in the most difficult times of our lives the smallest things can mean the most: a quick word of encouragement, a small token of appreciation, a short note of strength. I can imagine no more difficult time anybody could have than that which the Christians experienced near the end of the first century. Beginning with the reign of Nero, Rome had a personal vendetta against the church of Christ. Under each of the next four emperors leading up to the writing of this book (Nero, Vespasian, Titus, and Domitian) the cruelest tactics were used to try to dispel Christianity from its borders. Amidst all of this, there were still Christians trying to live faithfully and remain upbeat about their faith – thus enters a short note from heaven (Revelation 14:13). This note contains only 39 words, but it contains all the glories of Christianity’s hopes. There is absolutely nothing that could have been said to these suffering disciples that would have been more meaningful to them than this. Notice the elements of this note that make it so encouraging:
§ The Voice – John reveals that the source of this note is heaven and the speaker is identified as the Spirit. Heaven is concerned with the affairs of our lives. The widespread concept of Deism proclaims just the opposite. It claims that God created us but has no concern or care for what is occurring among us. God knows our problems and anticipates our reliance on Him for their solution. This heavenly voice is concerned with providing hope in the hearts of the battered and broken. This voice represents surety. God’s word is sure and never has and never will be broken (John 14:15; 2 Peter 3:9). This is a voice upon which we can rely. Not all voices are, but God’s voice is that in which we can always place our trust.
§ The Verdict – The verdict handed down by the Judge of all the earth is INNOCENT! Their innocence was because of their condition. They were “in the Lord.” Hebrews 11:13 – those great characters of faith, too, died in faith and had the same assurance in looking forward to the promises of eternity. 1 Thessalonians 4:14 – those dead in Christ would be present in righteousness on that great day of resurrection. But how are we put into Christ? Paul wrote we are baptized into Christ and thus have put on Christ (Galatians 3:26-29). Their innocence provided for them a supreme comfort. They would “rest from their labours.” The dead in Christ are blessed both with spiritual blessings in this life and the eternal blessing of heaven. We can have the same verdict if only our lives will reflect such service and sacrifice.
§ The Victory – At death there appears to the naked eye to have no future or victory. Such is an ignorance of what lies ahead for the Christian (1 Corinthians 15:51-55). For the Christian blessings actually reside in death – three in particular: (1) The blessing of release [release from the responsibilities and cares of this life], (2) the blessing of rest [rest from the trials and tribulations that so plague our lives], and (3) the blessing of resurrection [looking forward to when we have that victory over the grave and we are reconciled to the presence of God forever]. In the end Christians win. Faith is indeed the victory.
How much encouragement must this short note must have given to those Christians suffering immensely? But while that note was written 1,900 years ago to a different people far away from where we live the encouragement of that great note is ours’ as well!