Jesus’ first message for the apostle John to write was to the church at Ephesus. This was the largest church in Asia Minor at the time, and was located along the coast of present-day Turkey.
The apostle Paul had planted the church of Ephesus almost four decades earlier, at one point remaining with them for over two years, and later, he wrote his landmark epistle to them. But despite the church’s many notable achievements, Jesus identifies one serious flaw. John records Jesus’ message to them:
2 ‘I know your deeds and your labor and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil people, and you have put those who call themselves apostles to the test, and they are not, and you found them to be false; 3 and you have perseverance and have endured on account of My name, and have not become weary. 4 But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Revelation 2:2-4 (NASB)
The church of Ephesus was a doer. They worked hard in the name of Jesus, were not dissuaded by opposition, and quickly removed any false teachers from the body who might corrupt the fellowship and mislead the flock. Jesus noted all of this and was very positive about it.
But despite all this good work done in His name, Jesus had a major issue with this productive church – they had lost their first love. They no longer had spiritual intimacy with Him.
Over sixty years earlier, as a young man, the apostle John had heard a similar message from Jesus:
4 Remain in Me, and I in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself but must remain in the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me. 5 I am the vine, you are the branches; the one who remains in Me, and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. John 15:4-5 (NASB)
If we remain in Jesus, abiding in Him, we experience the living water of His Holy Spirit – rivers of it. We give to Him of our time and focus, seeking to do His will, and accomplishing it in His power. Without Christ’s involvement, we are simply busy about things on our own, done our own way.
As Chuck Smith has put it, the church committees may be active in pursuing things God approves of, but Jesus wants a love relationship with us first, then followed by His works. Without the former, the eternal value of the latter is greatly diminished. And the consequences of shutting Jesus out can be serious. He continues:
5 Therefore, remember from where you have fallen, and repent, and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and I will remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent. Revelation 2:5 (NASB)
The Light from a church will not last without a love relationship with Jesus at its core. There are many empty and abandoned churches around us which seem to prove that point, including the former church at Ephesus.
There is also a lesson here for all believers. We are called to repent when our own interactions with the Lord drop off to little or nothing. He loves us, and wants to be intimately involved in our lives, listening to our prayers, and teaching us through His word, the Bible. When we pray, study His word, and gather to worship, our focus turns back to Him, and His love and grace can again flow through us to bless those who come into the church fellowship as well as those outside of it. We become the hands and feet of Christ, according to His will and His workings.
We all experience highs and lows in our faith walk, but as we seek to put Jesus first, and devote time and attention to Him, He will greatly bless us and restore what we might have lost – He is so good!
Reflection
As believers, when we sin, we repent, or turn around, confess our sin, and return to the open arms of Jesus. Unbelievers must come to Him first, take step of faith in their heart to invite Him in, and begin an eternal love relationship. Then they, too, can experience His complete forgiveness and cleansing, and have the peace and joy of Christ abiding in their heart.
Where do I need to repent in my own life to refocus on this wonderful Savior, who died on a cross for me and was raised to life for my eternal salvation?
Lord, forgive me for all the times that I have ignored or forgotten You. All good things in my life have come from Your hand, and You are worthy of all my heart and mind, as well as my time and attention. Help me to abide in the vine of Your love, teach me through Your word, and work through me to bless and serve others, drawing them closer to an eternal life with You in Your kingdom. We ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Have a blessed and beautiful day in the Lord today
Times and Seasons - The Book of Revelation FOR TODAY 