“MY FAITHFUL WITNESS”
E. E. Hoyte
These scriptures would indicate the Lord’s interest in each one of us. The first part of the book convinces you of that. He knows all about us as He repeats “I know”, “I know”, “I know”. Our dear sister, whom we desire to be comforted, can take courage from that. The Lord in John 11 refers to Lazarus as “our friend”—“Lazarus, our friend, is fallen asleep, but I go that I may awaken him out of sleep”. What consideration! Arriving at the house, His word of comfort to Martha was, “Thy brother shall rise again”. Our dear sister can take comfort that our brother shall rise again.
What I want to call attention to in a simple way is how the Lord takes account of faithfulness on the part of His people, and rightly appraises features found in them. Perhaps I should not use the word ‘rightly’, for could the Lord’s action in any respect be other than right?
Whatever He said or did was not simply right but perfect, and could not be improved upon.
The point I am emphasising is the manner in which He values faithfulness in any of us. Verse 13 of the chapter reads, “I know where thou dwellest, where the throne of Satan is”. Think of that! Our sister need not fear. The Lord is able for every situation that might confront us.
Then, “Thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in the days in which Antipas my faithful witness was, who was slain among you, where Satan dwells”. He is speaking of a local brother in Pergamos. What a privilege to be among such persons in whom the Lord takes such interest! It is affecting how the apostles speak of the Lord’s sojourn here in manhood. Peter refers touchingly to “all the time in which the Lord Jesus came in and went out among us”, Acts 1: 21. John says “The Word became flesh, and dwelt among us”, John 1: 14. What impressions these apostles received; what experiences they acquired from the Lord’s movements and presence among them! He Himself as among them said, “I am in the midst of you as the one that serves”, Luke 22: 27. What a service it was!
But my point now is Antipas to whom the Lord refers as “my faithful witness”. This is challenging to all of us, as to whether the Lord can regard us in our localities as faithful persons. He knows all the conditions and circumstances with which we have to contend. He knows us, too, and His eye is upon us. He, the faithful and true Witness, has left an area in which His lovers can be faithful to Him in His absence. “My faithful witness”—what a
commendation this is of Antipas who was slain as a result of his steadfastness! Our brother has not been slain among us, thank God. In the mercy of God conditions are not so extreme as yet, but such were the conditions in Pergamos. The Lord has promised to keep His own out of the hour of trial which is about to come upon the whole habitable world, and we can be comforted in that promise.
I trust we will be encouraged in this line of faithfulness. Our brother, who had his own place in the locality, has served his generation and has fallen asleep. He has finished his course, I think with joy, too. Who is going to fill the vacancy? Paul speaks of being “baptised for the dead”, 1 Corinthians 15: 29. This expression means, to give a military application, that as soon as one soldier is struck down another immediately steps forward in his place in the rank.
So Peter in Acts 1, already referred to, said it was necessary to appoint one from among them to take the place of Judas. I am not suggesting that the brethren choose anyone, of course. At the same time, inasmuch as responsibility has to be assumed in a locality, there must be one to take it on. I am thinking rather on individual lines, that where there is a need some individual instinctively seeks grace to supply the need. May the Lord bless the word.