We come to the smallest letter which is addressed to the church at Smyrna. I like the fact that it is small because the message of this letter is all about suffering. Have you noticed when you talk to someone who is going through intense suffering, they do not want a lot of words or explanations? They tend to be good with just a few words of consolation and hope or with the comfort of someone’s presence. So here Jesus gives them a few words—7 sentences—intended to be a complete expression of what these believers need to adequately prepare for their dark-days and dark-nights of suffering.
When we are in the throes of suffering, time always has a way of testing our resolve to the point of breaking. In the early stages, especially if we have been warned or prepared, we tend to be able to handle suffering, even unjust suffering resulting from hateful accusations and misrepresentations. But as time goes on and on and on and on and on and on, and there seems to be no end in sight, we are tested in terms of our faithfulness. And time is crushing! Time seems to suck all life out of our HOPE and HOPE is necessary for our endurance.
