Jesus does not expect his church to be dead, sitting around waiting for him to return. Paul calls the church Christ's Body, a living organism. When we accept Jesus, then ignore his commands, we "...have lost connection with the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow. (Colossians 2:19 NIV) We can't just "get saved" and then go on as though Christ doesn't exist. It doesn't work that way. Either we want to be with him, living out his calling for our lives, or we don't.
Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. (Revelation 3:4-6 NIV)
God always gives us what we need to do what God calls us to do. Jesus calls us to repent of sin and be Holy as he is Holy, then sends his Spirit to help us live that out. When we walk by the Spirit, we put to death the deeds of the flesh. We then, dressed in white, are worthy to walk with Jesus.
"To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars--I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth. (Revelation 3:7-10 NIV)
Yes, walking with God is a battle. Walking without God, though, is a battle, too. There's no way to avoid the fight. Think of it this way. Would you rather fight against God or with God on your side? Those are the only choices we have. We live in an era where the battle over our souls is raging on. We get to choose which side we are on. When we choose Jesus, we are healed of our wounds, strengthened and equipped, and then go back into battle.
I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. (Revelation 3:11-13 NIV)
Fighting the right battles until the end, though, yields great rewards. It is worth every moment of the fight. When we Jesus wins, and we are by his side, we get to stay with him forever.
How about you? Are you among the "living dead" who accepted Jesus, but don't do anything about it? Are you a part of his living Body, healthy and growing as God provides the growth? Are you fighting the good fight, even till the end?
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