The One Who Conquers

"I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (Revelation 3:18-22).

Malachi speaks of Christ's coming as a refiner of gold, "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to Yahweh" (Malachi 3:3). And we know that righteousness comes through faith in Christ (Romans 3:21-22), and we are clothed and are to clothe ourselves in Christ (Romans 13:14; Galatians 3:27). In Christ, we boldly come before the throne of Grace (Hebrew 4:16), in his presence everything is exposed, he anoints our eyes so that we may see, though our garments were as scarlet they shall be white as snow.

Behold, I stand at the door and knock, this passage is speaking to believers; hear my voice church, I want to eat with you. Why would we not let someone in? It is a relationship of dependence and trust. If I do not know who is knocking on my door I am reluctant to let them in. If I believe punishment awaits, I would not want to open the door. The reverse is also true, am I fearful of opening the door knowing what awaits might be orders to go into a bad neighborhood to deliver bread and water. Fear prevents us from opening the door. We learn to trust God through obedience and resting in Him. He does not give us a spirit of fear but of love, power, and a sound mind.

There is no condemnation for those in Christ, Jesus did not come into the world to condemn nor judge, we are judged by the just judge. "God is not only a just judge who will avenge His own elect speedily (Luke 18:8), but we also have Jesus as our advocate (1 John 2:1), or attorney, who is always making intercession for us (Romans 8:34 and Heb 7:25). However, we have an adversary (the devil) who is constantly accusing us (Rev 12:10) and misrepresenting God (the judge). This causes some of us to give up (faint, Luke 18:1) and not even plead our case with God, because we doubt that He would answer us anyway".[1]

Count the cost, trust in God, put your hand to the plow and do not look back, this only is fitting of the kingdom of God, (Luke 9:62). "The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But as for the cowardly... the second death" (Revelation 21:7-8).

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