CULTIVATE OBEDIENCE AS THE END DRAWS NEAR

Avoid Apathy, Immorality, Materialism

Jesus' first letter was to the congregation in Ephesus. After commending the congregation for its endurance, Jesus stated:  "Nevertheless, I hold this against you, that you have left the love you had at first." (Revelation 2:1-4)  Today, some once-zealous Christians have likewise lost the fervent love they formerly had for God. Such a loss can  weaken one's relationship with God and be urgently addressed. How can such love be reinvigorated?  By regular Bible study, meeting attendance, prayer, and meditation.  (1 John 5:3)  True, this takes "earnest effort," but it is surely worth it.  (2 Peter 1:5-8) If honest self-examination reveals that your love has cooled off, then correct the situation promptly, in obedience to Jesus' exhortation:  "Remember from what you have fallen, and repent and do the former deeds." -Revelation 2:5. 

The Christians in Pergamum and Thyatira were commended for their integrity, endurance and zeal.  (Revelation 2:12, 13, 18, 19) Yet, they were influenced by certain ones manifesting the wicked spirit of Balaam and Jezebel, who by means of sexual immorality and Baal worship acted as corrupting influences in ancient Israel.  (Numbers 13:16; 1 Kings 16:30, 31; Revelation 2:14, 16, 20-23)  But what about our time-"the Lord's day"? Are the same evil influences evident?  Yes, for immorality is by far the leading cause for disfellowshipping among God's people.  How important, therefore, that we avoid association with all individuals-inside and outside the congregation-who are a  morally  corrupting influence! (1 Corinthians 5:9-11; 15:33)  Those who want to be Shiloh's  obedient subjects will also eschew questionable entertainment as well as printed and Internet pornography. -Amos 5:15; Matthew 5:28,29. 

With the exception of a few individuals, the  congregation in Sardis received no commendation at all.  It had "the name," or the appearance, of being alive, but spiritual apathy had taken such a hold that to Jesus it was "dead."  Obedience to the good news was all but perfunctory. What an  indictment!  (Revelation 3:1-3) The congregation in Laodicea was in a similar state. It boasted material wealth, saying, "I am rich," yet to Christ it was "miserable and pitiable and poor and blind and naked." -Revelation 3:14-17. 

Today, some once-faithful Christians have also fallen into the same pattern of disobedience. Perhaps they have allowed the spirit of the world to sap the senses of urgency from their lives, thus developing a spiritually lukewarm attitude toward Bible study, prayer, Christian meetings, and the ministry.  (2 Peter 3:3, 4, 11, 12)  How important  that such ones obey Christ by investing in spiritual riches-yes, "buy from [Christ] gold refined by fire"!  (Revelation 3:18) Such genuine wealth includes  being 'rich in fine works, liberal, ready to share.' By investing in these truly precious assets, we 'safely treasure up for ourselves a fine foundation for the future, in order to get a firm hold on the real life.' -1 Timothy 6:17-19.

Next time: CULTIVATE OBEDIENCE AS THE END DRAWS NEAR - Commended for Their Obedience

From the Watchtower magazine, 2002