Every day is filled with choices like what we’ll eat or wear. Many of our choices are insignificant. But other choices do matter like who we’re going to worship and how we live our life.

In Revelation 2-3, Jesus addressed seven churches in Asia Minor. In his address to the Church at Pergamum, Jesus promised the “hidden manna” to those who conquered.

Jesus invited each church to conquer, that is to endure in faith. In Revelation 5, Jesus, the Lion of the tribe of Judah conquered by his death as the Lamb slain. To conquer means that we trust in Jesus alone as Savior and follow him as Lord.

For the believers in Pergamum, the “hidden manna” was in contrast to the public feasts and meals celebrated in the pagan and imperial temples. False teachers in the church were encouraging believers to compromise their faith by adopting cultural practices to “fit in.” When Jesus promised the “hidden manna,” he was promising food that would last in contrast to the idolatrous meals that were temporary.

No one today worships the Roman emperors or the Greek pantheon of gods. All the ancient worship of Pergamum is meaningless. It didn’t last. It left practitioners empty and unfulfilled.

Jesus offers us food that fills and food that lasts. This is the bread that lasts forever. It is the spiritual food experienced through a relationship with Jesus. It was “hidden” in order to contrast with the open pagan celebrations of meals dedicated to idols.

Unbelievers across the world are giving themselves to idolatrous practices. People do all sorts of things to “fit in” or compromise in numerous ways to fill the emptiness in their souls. Money, power, and pleasure are common functional gods people adopt to fill empty souls. Others pursue success through children, careers, and experiences. These things are not necessarily wrong, but when we replace God with them, they become false gods. As main things, they leave us empty, unfulfilled, and wanting. That’s because all these things are temporary.

Jesus offers us (spiritual) food that is filling and lasting. Jesus described himself as the bread of life (John 6:35). Relationship with Jesus fills us. Those who know Jesus and have invested in a relationship with him know he is real, meaningful, and fulfilling. If you are hoping for something else to fill you, you will be disappointed.

Jesus also offers us (spiritual) food that lasts. Relationship with Jesus is forever. Jesus is the one who is, who was, and who is to come (Revelation 1:4, 8). Because Jesus is eternal, and because we are in him, relationship with Jesus is lasting, eternal, permanent.

How do we receive this hidden manna?

• First, we must receive it as a gift. Jesus offers the manna as a gift to those who conquer. “Those who conquer” is a repeated statement from Jesus to each of the seven churches in Revelation. Believers conquer through a relationship with Jesus because Jesus conquered in his death and resurrection (Revelation 5). By entering a relationship with Jesus and following him, Jesus will give us the hidden manna.
• Second, we must understand the implications of the gift. God gave manna to Israel when she was wandering in the wilderness. Manna sustained God’s people until they reached the Promised Land. Manna was how they survived. We are living in a wilderness of sorts. Things we put our hope in will not sustain or fill us. But even in the wilderness, we can experience God’s promise through Jesus. Receiving this gift is realizing Jesus is all that matters. He alone fulfills. Relationship with him is eternal.
• Third, we must accept and own the contrast implied in the gift. The Church at Pergamum was offered the hidden manna in contrast to the public idolatrous feasts in the city. When we follow Jesus, we’re leaving everything else behind, renouncing idols, and rejecting the pursuit of things that don’t fill and don’t last.
• Fourth, we must seek, follow, and spend time with Jesus. Today, make time to pause. Read Jesus’ Word, the Bible. Listen for what he wants to tell you. Pray. Talk to Jesus. Invest in the relationship that fills and lasts.