“I know where you live!” Uttered by the wrong person, those can be pretty intimidating, even frightening, words. Sometimes when they are uttered by the right person, they can get your attention; especially if you’ve been doing something you shouldn’t be doing. When they’re uttered by Jesus Himself, the Righteous Judge, they can be terrifying for the sinner. But wait a minute! Isn’t this supposed to be a message of encouragement? Yes, it is! On one particular occasion, Jesus made the statement, “I know where you live” to a group of Christians who very much needed encouragement. The church of Jesus Christ in Pergamum, Asia (the southwestern-most province of Asia Minor, now Turkey) was in a difficult position. Pergamum was the seat of the Roman government in that province. Very likely the pressure on Christians to engage in emperor worship was greater there than in any of the other cities of that area. Faithful Christians refused to worship any other god but Jehovah God and many paid the ultimate price for their faith. In fact, in the same verse (Revelation 2:13), Jesus praised the brethren of the church in Pergamum for not denying the faith, even in the face of death. Jesus said, “I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is; and you hold fast My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.” One of their number had already been killed and still they remained faithful. They were to be commanded, and Jesus did just that.
Do you ever feel like Satan lives right next door? Or maybe he’s renting a room in your own house? I don’t mean that you’ve invited him in; it just seems that he’s always around. He’s always right there with another temptation. He never lets up. It’s pressure, Pressure, PRESSURE!!! Sometimes you just want to give up and scream. You wonder where God is. Where is that “way of escape” He promised in 1 Corinthians 10:13? Well, it’s there. He did promise it and you can bet it’s there if you look hard enough. One of the reasons it’s so hard to see, is that Satan makes these temptations so attractive that it’s hard to really take your eyes off of them long enough to find the way of escape. But do not doubt for a minute that it is there.
Sometimes the temptation is so attractive, the pressure to succumb is so great, that it’s like the sound of a mighty, rushing wind, the sound of which drowns out all other sounds. You cannot hear the warnings of friends and loved ones; you cannot hear your own conscience. You’re being dragged kicking and screaming against your own will (or so it seems) into the pit of sin and destruction. You cry out, “God, where are You?” If you really want to hear it, there comes an answer: “I know where you live!” He knows where you are. He can sympathize with what you’re suffering right now (Hebrews 4:15). He’s been there. He’s suffered through the same agony. In fact, He’s made the same cry (Matthew 27:46). Our Father in heaven was in the same place for His Only Begotten Son when He cried out on the cross as He is when you and I cry out. He knows where you live! He knows what you’re suffering. He hurts when you hurt. He hurts more when you give in.
Don’t give in! Hold fast, stand firm, and keep fighting!! Our brothers and sisters in Pergamum didn’t deny the faith, even when one of their own was killed. Others of that congregation of the Lord’s church may very well have been killed before it was over, but the faithful did not give up the faith. Jesus promised them something if they would overcome the temptation to quit. He said that to the one who overcomes, He would give some of the hidden manna (spiritual food that would make them even stronger); He would give a white stone (a symbol given to slaves who had been freed, to show they were free) and upon that stone would be written a new name which no one knows except those who belong to Him. It really doesn’t matter what the new name is. He said no one would know it but the one to whom it was given and that is good enough for me. The point is this: If you will remain faithful, God knows all about it, even if no one else does. He knows where you live; He knows what you’re suffering. And He promises to be there for you no matter what, if you will simply remain faithful to Him.
What a lovely thought! What a comfort to know! I hope that thought gives you some comfort today and throughout this week as you serve Him and suffer through the temptations and trials of your life. God loves and so do I.
Donnie Bates