To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, and the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this: Revelation 2:1 NASB
I slipped in and out of a feverish sleep. Every time I opened my eyes, tears of pain gathered. My body ached too much to sob with the tears, so they quietly trickled toward my ears. I could not hold a thought or focus more than a moment or two. The fog was impenetrable, but the pain was worse. How many days I had languished on the couch, I could not remember. How long can a stomach flu last?
All I could manage by way of prayer was, “Jesus, You are the great healer. Help me!” Whenever I prayed a desperate prayer like that, Jesus answered. Immediately, the pain decreased enough for me to slip back into the relief of sleep.
Pain is a powerful motivator for seeking God. My every waking moment – which were not many – I spend in conversation with Him. I clung to my Healer with all the strength I could muster. Praise God, He delivered me! I am healed and whole today.
During the difficult times, we need to focus on Jesus, to be an overcomer. I had to focus on Jesus as my Healer, to overcome my sickness. The church at Ephesus had to focus on Jesus as One who walks among them to overcome their distance from Him.
To each of the seven churches in Revelation, Jesus reveals Himself in the way that will help them endure. If they focus on that aspect of Jesus, He will strengthen them to overcome. Jesus promises beautiful rewards to the overcomer.
In the case of Ephesus, they had lost their first love (Rev. 2:4). Jesus was calling them to repentance and asking them to focus on Him as the One who holds their leaders (seven stars) and walks among them (seven lampstands) (Rev.1:20). He is calling them to intimacy. If they will focus on being in His presence, He will rekindle the fire in their hearts. Then they will burn brightly (lampstand) for Him again. They will endure to the end, come what may. He will richly reward the overcomers.
How about you? What aspect of Jesus do you need to focus on to endure? Are you struggling under persecution, like the church in Smyrna? Are you attempting to stay pure among the morally corrupt, like the church in Thyatira?
No matter what your need, Jesus has the answer. Spend time in His presence, meditating on His character traits that fulfil your need, and He will strengthen you to be an overcomer. Your reward is waiting.