Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: BE THOU FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH, and I will give thee a crown of life.
Revelation 2:10

According to the dictionary, “faithful” means loyal, constant, the same, unwavering and unchanging. To be faithful unto death, therefore is to be loyal, constant, the same, unwavering and unchanging until death.
1. “Be thou Faithful Unto Death” is a command from Jesus Christ.
Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: BE THOU FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH, and I will give thee a crown of life.
Revelation 2: 10

Jesus does not believe in short term commitments. He expects faithfulness unto death! Those are the standards of your saviour and it is important that you believe in them and practice them.
There is a clear message from the Lord – be faithful unto death and you will get a crown of life! The crown of life is a promise and a reward for those who are able to be faithful to death.  Although it was a message to the church in Smyrna it is a message to all; be faithful unto death! In life, many people are able to stay faithful only for a period of time.

2. “Be thou Faithful Unto Death” is how to be a family.
But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
Matthew 12: 48-50
Do not think it strange that I am writing about faithfulness unto death in the ministry. When Jesus walked the earth, He taught us the value of having a second family. He said, His family are those who obey the word of God. He showed us that those who obey the word of God were His brothers, sisters, and mothers. In other words, Jesus made these people his family.
Some people criticize churches that have loyal and faithful members. They do not understand how the church has become a family. In other words, they do not understand why the followers of the church are faithful unto death. They say things like, “This church is a cult. No one can leave that church.” The truth is that no one leaves a family. It is difficult to leave your family and it is difficult to leave a church that has become a family. When the leadership builds the church as a family, it is truly difficult to leave.
Faithfulness unto death is a natural occurrence for families. No one leaves a family until they die. No one leaves a church until they die, when the church is like a family. Faithfulness unto death is loyalty and faithfulness to the very end of your life.

3. “Be thou Faithful Unto Death” is the covenant of marriage.
For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
Ephesians 5: 31

Faithfulness unto death is the expectation of every married couple. Marriage is a covenant unto death. It is the coming together of two people to become one flesh. When you separate from your spouse, you are wrenching your flesh out of your spouse’s flesh.
All marriages are based on the concept of faithfulness unto death. All couples vow to be faithful unto death. Those famous words, “Until death us do part” are the promises we make to be faithful unto death. Are you not disappointed when a couple breaks up their marriage before death parts them? Marriage is a covenant that we enter into with a mind that, “I will be faithful unto death.” Many spouses are faithful to each other for a period of time. Sometimes, their season of faithfulness is short and sometimes it is long. When a spouse is faithful for his entire life then he is faithful unto death.

4. “Be thou Faithful Unto Death” is the command of ministry.
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

“Matthew 28: 20
Jesus was expecting to be with his disciples to the end of the world. Jesus was not expecting Peter and James to work in the ministry for only five years. Jesus said we will be together till the end of the world. It is important that you understand the concept of faithfulness unto death in ministry. To the end of the world!
Faithfulness unto death is the only kind of commitment that is needed for the ministry. If you want to build a mega church, you must have a mind to be faithful unto death. Faithfulness that is not unto death is not the faithfulness you need. You need something that will last till the end of the world.
Do not deceive yourself or anyone else. You do want faithfulness unto death! You want a pastor who will be faithful to you until his death!
You do want a church that will be faithful to you unto death! You do want a friend that will be faithful to you unto death! You do want a wife that will be faithful to you unto death! You do want a husband that will be faithful to you unto death. You do want a God that will be faithful to you unto death!
Faithfulness unto death must be your goal! The reason why we have many stories about those who leave you, those who forget, those who pretend, those who are proud, those who are ignorant and those who accuse, is because faithfulness unto death was not their goal when they chose to walk on in the ministry. Ministry is a long walk! We have all heard of Nelson Mandela’s long walk to freedom. But I tell you; there is an even longer walk of faithfulness in ministry.
Be faithful unto death is an instruction from God. You are to take a very long walk of unwavering fidelity to your God, to His purpose and to your calling. You must decide to be faithful to the last day of your life on this earth. Imagine that! How long will you live? Will you die in your forties, fifties, sixties, seventies or eighties? You are expected to be faithful and unchanging until you get into your forties, fifties, sixties, seventies or eighties.