Don't let folk who not on their way to heaven keep you from maximizing heaven's opportunity.

Dr. Tony Evans talks about why it's more important than ever for Christ followers to be faithful.

This is not a time for weak-me Christians. This is a day to name the name of Jesus Christ.

This is the alternative broadcast featuring the timeless biblical teachings from the archives of

Dr. Tony Evans.

It's not as easy to be a Christian in America as it used to be, and it's likely to get harder.

Dr. Evans says that means commitment and faithfulness to Christ are more important than ever.

A challenge he'll help us meet as we turn to Revelation chapter 2 beginning in verse 8 for today's

lesson. John the apostle writes to this second church, the church at Smyrna. He says first and the last the one who was dead and alive

says this so I'm going to give the message but Jesus is doing the talking so if

you get mad at what I'm getting ready to say, talk to Jesus, leave me alone.

Because he just told him to say what he was saying.

So in that little phrase, Jesus speaks of both his deity and his humanity.

He's the first and the last.

He's God, but he died.

So he's man.

He says,

I know your tribulation.

I know your trouble.

I know what you're going through. I know you're hurting right now. He says,

I am fully aware that you're going through it because I'm God, but I'm also fully aware of what it feels like because I'm man.

If you feel like you're dying, I know what that feels like because I died.

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