When Faith Costs Everything: Lessons from Smyrna

    Have you ever felt like a "stranger in a strange land" because of your faith?. In a world that is increasingly antagonistic toward biblical values, it can feel like you are being pressured to stay silent or keep your beliefs strictly to yourself. We often wonder: is it possible to be truly faithful when the culture around us seems to be moving in the opposite direction?.

    The church in Smyrna knew this tension intimately. They lived in a city that demanded emperor worship and indulged in lifestyles that directly contradicted their faith. Because they refused to compromise, they were labeled as unpatriotic, narrow-minded, and intolerant. They didn't just face "mean comments"; they suffered the loss of jobs, property, and even their lives.

Yet, when Jesus looked at this suffering church, He didn't offer a critique. Unlike other churches, Smyrna received only praise. While the world saw them as poor and marginalized, Jesus declared, "You are rich".

The Reality of Spiritual Warfare

    The struggle we face today isn't just political or social—it is deeply spiritual. This reality is reflected in modern religious freedom trends. For example, the 2024 World Watch List reports that over 365 million Christians globally face high levels of persecution and discrimination for their faith—that’s roughly 1 in 7 Christians worldwide. Many people laugh and minimize the idea Christian persecution in America, but regardless it exists and it is increasing. We have seen Christian bakers who have had their businesses destroyed for standing on their personal and biblical convictions. We face it when we share our faith, or when we stand for biblical truth and are demonized for it.  A Pew Research Center study found that a growing number of Christians feel they are becoming a minority in a culture that no longer shares their values. Just as in Smyrna, when we stand up for our families, our marriages, or our faith, we often find ourselves on the "firing line".

“And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write, ‘These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life: “I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.”’” — Revelation 2:8–10 (NKJV) 

Christ’s Charge to the Faithful

If you find yourself in shoes like those of the believers in Smyrna, Jesus provides three specific charges to guide your walk:

1. Do Not Fear

    Jesus tells the church not to be driven or manipulated by fear. It's not that there is nothing to fear. After all they were being persecuted in a real and terrifying way. However, Jesus wanted to remind them that they should not allow the fearful situation, over ride their faith. He wanted them to understand that even in the midst of there hardships and struggles God is right there with them. 

    Fear often compels us to capitulate, to stay silent when we should speak, or to deny Christ before our peers. Remember that God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind (2 Tim 1:7).

2. Look with Spiritual Eyes

    When trials come, our first instinct is to ask, "Why did this happen?". Jesus reveals that there is a spiritual battle taking place. The devil doesn't usually attack apathy or complacency; he attacks those who are actually sharing their faith and standing on the Word. See your struggle for what it is: a test of resolve, not a punishment for doing wrong.

3. Continue to be Faithful

    The final instruction is the hardest: be faithful even unto death. This means not giving up and staying committed to the "good work" regardless of the cost. One of the most famous examples of this was Polycarp, a pastor in Smyrna and a disciple of the Apostle John, who chose to be burned at the stake rather than deny Jesus. Our faithfulness is not challenged when things are easy but rather when things are difficult. Will you remain faithful and stand firm in your faith, when doing so might result in enduring a difficult and even painful situation? Regardless of what you may have to face, remain faithful because God will see you through it. 

Moving to the Front Lines

What made Smyrna "rich" was their willingness to be salt and light even when it was dangerous. They didn't just preach the Word; they lived it. So what about you, will you live it out in your life and let the chips fall where they may? 

Where are you standing?: Are you on the sidelines of faith, or are you on the front lines, actively sharing your faith and standing on God's Word?.

What drives you?: Are your decisions motivated by a fear of what others think, or by the God you serve?

Can you see the battle?: When problems pop up because of your faith, can you see them with spiritual eyes as a sign that you are on the winning side? If your going through a trial, have you asked God to help you see the spiritual battle you are going through them so that you can see the big picture. 

    We are called to fight the "good fight" for the faith. This requires stepping out of our comfort zones and trusting that God will come through. Remember, what God thinks of you is far more important than what the world thinks of you.