In Pergamos persecution had already taken the life of one member of the church. The threats now had substance. The outward situation was precarious, but Jesus sees a greater danger for this church rising from within.
How would you like to be part of a church toward which Jesus had not even one negative thing to say? There is nothing to criticize. There is no need for repentance. Such is the church in Smyrna, but we might stop and think before we too quickly say we want our churches to look like this.
We’ve all had the experience. Initial enthusiasm gives way to persistent dissatisfaction. A marriage filled with love and excitement takes work to stay filled with love and excitement. And so it is with other things. It almost doesn’t matter what it is, the shine wears off; the new becomes routine; the fabulous becomes the familiar. The honeymoon is over. This was the story of the church in Ephesus.
Central Reflections 