Hold on and look to Jesus
by Dr Kirsten Due
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I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus (Revelation 1:9).
Read Revelation 1:9–16
As I write this, cats purr at my feet. From the café, I can see million-dollar houses encircling a marina filled with million-dollar boats. People sip organic lattes, and a pug prances in his diamante collar. Mangoes and frangipanis scent the air and the birds nest in the boughs of well-watered trees. Someone complains that the coffee is too cold, the weather too warm, and fuel prices are too high.
None have been imprisoned for the sake of the gospel. We live far from North Korea, Ukraine, Israel, and the Gaza Strip. None has recent memories of being in Changi or Ravensbrück.
The Apostle John, who wrote Revelation, suffered for his faith. As a frail old man, he was exiled to Patmos, a small barren area where criminals were sent to work in the mines. Our hardships are never likely to come close to these experiences, but as sure as night follows day, we will have our own desperate trials.
There is no formula to help us cope, but we can learn some things. Firstly, wherever we find ourselves, God is there. Secondly, we do not suffer alone, but we have brothers and sisters who are experiencing terrible tribulations – whether known to us or not. Thirdly, suffering comes even to those who believe and follow the word of God. Fourthly, we do not have a high priest (Jesus) who is unfamiliar with our sorrow – but one who has suffered and died and is alive forevermore.
We can look to Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. Hebrews says through the battle of the cross, he despised its shame and looked to God and the joy set before him. We are driven to avoid the hostility of others and the experience of shame. Only something (someone) greater than these can carry us through. We can give up our attempts at virtue signalling (you can look that up) and running away. God will carry us through. The joy Jesus saw before him was us. He saw us, his beautiful children, his brothers and sisters – his inheritance. He saw us loved in the arms of the Father, and that was his joy! Let us look to him in times of need. In times of persecution, let us wait for his word to come and set us on our feet.
Dear Father, in times of trial, let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who, for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross and great hostility and yet despised its shame. Let us look to him, who is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God, where he makes prayers and intercessions for us. Where he knows our needs and loves us more than we can imagine. Amen.
Kirsten enjoys working as a Medical Rural Generalist in the remotest part of Australia – from Warruwi to Ramingining and Ltyentye Apurte to Lajamanu, to name a few. Her favourite thing is showing her husband, Noel, around the communities and coming home to him and their two ragdoll cats (Courage and Perseverance). Kirsten says she does not like flying sideways in a tiny Cessna in bad weather or having to run away from grumpy buffalo, red-belly black snakes or crocodiles.
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