They Went Out from Us

In light of high profile leaders leaving the faith lately, perhaps we ought to be reminded that it’s not anything new.

Demas was a deserter in New Testament days. Billy Graham’s friend and co-laborer, Charles Templeton, left the faith. Bart Campolo became a secular humanist. Frank Schaeffer ditched evangelicalism. Now, Josh Harris and Marty Sampson have gone.

It’s not a new phenomenon. John shows us what happens, “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us” (I John 2:19).

It will happen again. Could it happen to you? Or me?

Let’s pray for ourselves and for each other that we will persevere, that we will fight the good fight, that we will finish our course, that we will keep the faith.

You see, Revelation tells us that the overcomers are the ones who receive the promises. In Revelation 2-3, the ESV uses the word “conquers.” The NASB uses the word “overcomes.” The Greek word is actually nikao - to be victorious, to prevail, to get the victory.

To the one who conquers [overcomes] I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God. Revelation 2:7b

The one who conquers [overcomes] will not be hurt by the second death. Revelation 2:11b

To the one who conquers [overcomes] I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it. Revelation 2:17b

The one who conquers [overcomes] and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations. Revelation 2:26

The one who conquers [overcomes] will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. Revelation 3:5

The one who conquers [overcomes], I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. Revelation 3:12

The one who conquers [overcomes], I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. Revelation 3:21

So, how do we overcome; how do we gain the victory? Again, Revelation helps us.

And they have conquered him [the accuser, Satan] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. Revelation 12:11
“Jesus, we know we can do nothing apart from You. If You didn’t help us stay faithful, we would fail and fall. Thank You for holding us close to Your heart. Thank You that Your steadfast love never ceases. John 10 tells us that You and the Father hold us safe and sound and secure in a double divine grip! Help us finish the race that You have given us to run. Help us to be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. We are those who persevere because You are He who preserves. Make us stand before You one day and hear You say, ‘Well done.’ Amen.”