By David Faust
I spent a week in Turkey last summer. My travel group toured Istanbul and visited the sites of the seven churches mentioned in Revelation 2 and 3. In every town, Muslim calls to prayer rang in the air five times a day, amplified by loudspeakers from local mosques.
The journey increased my appreciation for first-century missionaries and for the brave believers serving Jesus in Turkey today. Our tour was tiring, even though we had air-conditioned buses and modern hotels. Imagine what it was like for the apostles who traveled on foot or by boat. Paul wasn’t kidding when he wrote about facing danger in the city, the country, and the sea (2 Corinthians 11:26). Yet, God’s first-century ambassadors went wherever he sent them to spread the good news.
Messages Tailored to the Churches’ Needs
Jesus tailored each of his Revelation letters to the specific circumstances of the seven churches. At Pergamum, we took a cable car to the top of an 1,100-foot-high hill and viewed the ruins of pagan temples, theaters, and intimidating Roman military installations that overshadowed first-century Christians like a devilish throne and threatened their safety every time they looked up. Christ assured the believers in Pergamum, “I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name” (Revelation 2:13). He knows where we live, too.
We saw hot springs flowing from the ground at Hierapolis and a cold-water spring near the site of ancient Colosse. Nearby, we toured the ruins of first-century Laodicea, where Christ’s followers were neither hot nor cold, but lukewarm (Revelation 3:15-16).
Changing Circumstances
Time has changed those ancient cities. Hierapolis receives only a passing mention in the New Testament—a quick reference in Colossians 4:13—but impressive archaeological remains show that it was a thriving metropolis in the first century. I walked across the site of Colosse, which is now a field covered with thistles. Ancient Smyrna, however, has become a thriving metropolis known as Izmir, and our departing flight left from its modern airport. Over the centuries, these areas were altered by political and economic factors and by earthquakes and fires. Some cities thrived and grew, while others declined and eventually disappeared.
If the Lord delays his return and visitors tour our communities 2,000 years from now, will they see the abandoned remains of our theaters, stadiums, and malls? What will our church buildings look like then?
I’m thankful for congregations that thrive in growing communities, but what about Christ’s faithful followers who serve in places where declining job markets and depressed economies have caused residents to move away? Across the globe, some local churches reap the benefits of explosive population growth, financial prosperity, and favorable governmental policies, while many other congregations struggle to accomplish their mission under adverse conditions. Without making excuses for non-growth, let’s humbly recognize that local churches are affected by political shifts, natural disasters, and spiritual dynamics invisible to human eyes. Lost souls need Jesus, whether they live in America or in the Middle East—in booming suburbs, remote villages, or crowded cities.
After 2,000 years, the gospel continues to be “the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile” (Romans 1:16). We should trust God’s providence and go wherever he leads us—even to unfamiliar and uncomfortable places. Our job is to plant and water gospel seeds and leave the results to him.
Personal Challenge: Do you know any missionaries or church planters who are serving in parts of the world where living conditions are difficult and resistance to the gospel is strong? Pray for them and write them a note of encouragement.
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