Just the ticket

James Cathcart April 27, 2022 0 2

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Revelation 2: 8-11 (NRSVA)

8 ‘And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of the first and the last, who was dead and came to life:

9 ‘I know your affliction and your poverty, even though you are rich. I know the slander on the part of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Beware, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison so that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have affliction. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11 Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. Whoever conquers will not be harmed by the second death.

Following Jesus is not a ticket to a simple, pain-free comfortable life. Which is a pity really. Because that sounds great. Especially after the last two years.

But, alas, there is no such ticket available anywhere. Life always contains struggle and there is no guarantee against it. Some lives are harder than others, much harder, but there’s no life without some hardship. Living is complicated and following Jesus isn’t a shortcut around that. There isn’t a special pass. Jesus isn’t claiming to sell such tickets. And if he did we’d be right to be suspicious.

But Jesus is saying: I will be here. I will be here no matter what. I’ll be waiting with you and for you. Because he loves us. Because he honours our love with eyes that are lit by the ancient starlight of the universe. Jesus sees the goodness in us the that we often fail to see.

When we think it isn’t enough, or it’s too far gone, or there’s no hope, or no point — Jesus is there saying, but beloved there is. There’s so much point! There’s so much point in you and what you do. I love you and I’m here.

And sometimes that’s just the ticket.

PRAYER:

Lead us on

Lord

Amen.