“PILLARS”

Jack Davis

“Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” Rev. 3:12-13

The verses quoted above are just part of the wonderful promises given full overcomers. He is making pillars out of overcomers today. A pillar is (from the Greek) that column which supports the weight of the building. In a spiritual sense, believers are said to be God’s building. Thank God there are those that stand, uphold and support in His temple. A true pillar does not change positions with the conditions. Although we each are prone to such, because we are not perfected yet. As we become established, we are not as easily tossed to and fro and carried about by every wind of change or adversity, but stand and withstand having our loins girt about with truth. 

“HIM THAT OVERCOMETH”
An overcomer is one that is victorious. “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for as much as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” – I Cor. 15:55-58.

Since Jesus death and resurrection, all believers have been given full provision to overcome (John 16:33) the world (I John 5:4-5) the flesh (Rom. 5:17, 6:11-14, 12:21) and the devil (I John 4:3-4). Yet not all overcome fully; therefore not all are made pillars. As trying situations, and even overwhelming circumstances go against us, we learn to lean on the everlasting arms, and are thus made to stand no matter what the out look or apparent outcome. He is making overcomers out of us more fully and making us to stand more firmly. He alone can make of us pillars in His everlasting temple. If you never have anything to overcome, you will never be a pillar.

In Christ Jesus, we all should want to become that which is dependable. We learn by experience that we are only dependable as we are dependent upon the most dependable One. “Thou has a little strength” – too little to trust in or count on ourselves. His strength being made perfect in weakness is essential to making us pillars, thus we become strong in the Lord and the power of His might. Thank God there are still believers today coming to know the grace of God in truth, who out of weakness are being made strong. Peter and Paul both encourage us to realize the effectual working of God’s marvelous grace.

Paul urged to be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and endure hardness (II Tim. 2:1,3) Peter admonished to grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (II Peter 3:18; instead of being led away with the error of the wicked, and falling from our own steadfastness. Our beloved brother Paul said “It is a good thing that the heart be established with grace,” following the strong statement that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever (Heb. 13:8-9). It is good that His grace has the influence upon our hearts that is reflected in our lives.

“And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity” (I Cor. 13:13).

“I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.” Rev. 3:8-10

As we read the message to the Philadelphia assembly, let us think of these abiding, stable, stabilizing traits being developed in God’s people today to make us stand. They are commended for, keeping His word, not denying His name, and for keeping the word of His patience.

“KEPT MY WORD”
Those that keep His word are made pillars in the faith. I thank God today for those who have stayed true to the whole counsel of God. There are still some who feel what our Lord has said is important, and they hold it dear to their hearts, and will not compromise. Pillars like Paul are set for the defense of the Gospel and are not ashamed to tell it. Paul delighted in those Philippians that stood fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the Gospel. Phil. 1:17,27-30.

He encouraged the Colossians to “continue in the faith grounded and settled” and enjoyed seeing them become pillars in the faith. “For though I be absent in flesh, yet I am with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ. As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord so walk in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith” – Col. 1:23; 2:5-7.

“NOT DENIED MY NAME”
A woman truly in love should gladly take over her and honor the name of the man she loves. The name of Jesus is precious to us and as overcomers we delight to be identified with Him. It is a joy to us to honor His headship and do all our business in His sweet and holy name. He says, “I will make them…know that I have love thee.” Thus He is developing us as pillars of love. As Christ dwells in our hearts by faith, (being at home there as master of the house) we are being rooted and grounded in love – Eph. 3:17.

Becoming firmly established in His love, we strengthen others. The love of Christ is the motivating force in the lives of such pillars. These hurt when others hurt, and are faithful to support others, and especially uphold them before the throne of grace. “For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: and that He died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again” II Cor. 5:14-15.
“KEPT THE WORD OF MY PATIENCE”
Pillars are hope develop as we embrace the promises of our Lord’s return. As the word of His patience is renewed afresh and kept alive in our hearts, we are made more constant on our course. Our growth in words of faith, and labors of love becomes more stable as we are occupied in a patience of hope, awaiting God’s Son from heaven. Paul points us to a completely beautifying work that the Lord promises to do in us, if we are not moved away from the hope of the Gospel - Col. 1:22-23. Those who would be rewarded for keeping the word of His patience are urged to lay hold of the hope set before us, and have it as an anchor of the soul – Heb. 6:18-19.
(to be continued next issue)