A Walk Among the Lampstands
She lifts the latch on the gate that leads into the garden. The gate swings open to allow her entrance. Then she closes it behind her and begins to slowly walk up and down the rows.
It’s early, and the sun has only just now peeked its long rays over the horizon. She brushes back a loose tendril of gray hair and tightens the ties on her gardening apron. The essential tools are tucked into her pockets, weighing down the front of the apron just a bit.
She carefully examines each plant, studying each branch and leaf for parasites, fungi, and other signs of harm. She pauses, frowns, and pulls out her clipping shears from a pocket of her apron. Snip, snip – a diseased stem falls to the ground.
Further down the row, she stops again, this time to admire a lovely blossom full of color and life. Her stroll continues until she’s thoroughly inspected each inhabitant of the garden plot. She waters, adds nutrients, and tends to whatever needs she finds. She’s intent on doing whatever it takes to ensure the health and flourishing of every plant, and she doesn’t hesitate to prune or pull up by the roots any weed or unproductive plant that takes away from what her own plants need to survive.
She – the gardener – takes great delight in the beauty and vibrancy surrounding her. The garden is her joy.
In Revelation 2, Jesus begins His dictation to John of letters to seven New Testament churches. While five of the churches receive encouragement as well as conviction, two of the churches are strongly reprimanded. Jesus knows the heart of each church intimately – both the good and the bad.
As chapter two begins, Jesus describes Himself as the One Who “holds the seven stars in His right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands.” In the final verse of the previous chapter, He tells John that the seven stars are the seven angels (or messengers) of the seven churches and that the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
As the Lord walks among the churches, He observes growth, flourishing, faithfulness, and perseverance. He commends endurance of hardship, faithfulness, love, and service.
Conversely, He also calls out the forsaking of the church’s first love, idolatrous behavior, tolerance of false teaching, hypocrisy, and a lukewarm commitment to the things of God.
In addressing each church with its particular strengths and weaknesses, Jesus’ final words to each one are words of admonishment – correction fueled by love to keep these churches mission true to their ministry of reflecting the purity and holiness of God by their faithful deeds.
Jesus loves the Church, and He desires to see it in all of the incredible beauty and flourishing that God intends for it. He’s gentle and uplifting to the fragile, stern and rebuking to those needing a wake-up call. All of this is driven by His great love for us and for His Father and for His desire to see the Church fully display the honor and glory of God.
If Jesus were to walk among the golden lampstands – the churches - of our day, what would He find? Where would He commend us? Where would He find us lacking? In what areas might He admonish or encourage us?
Just as the gardener does whatever is necessary to ensure that her garden thrives, the Holy Spirit provides all that we need to be the vibrant, dynamic body of Christ here on earth. As Jesus walks among the churches, may He find us diligent in our mission to bring glory to the Father, and may we be found humble, faithful, and worthy of commendation.
May we be His joy now and forever.
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The Seven Promises of Jesus to Those Who Overcome
“To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.” – Revelation 2:7b
“He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death.” – Revelation 2:11b
“To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.” – Revelation 2:17b
“To him who overcomes and does My will to the end, I will give authority over the nations…just as I received authority from My Father. I will also give him the morning star.” – Revelation 2:26, 27b-28
“He who overcomes will…be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before My Father and His angels.” – Revelation 3:5
“Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of My God. Never again will He leave it. I will write on him 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 him My new name.” – Revelation 3:12
“To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on His throne.” – Revelation 3:21
