What God Says to the Churches Part 2

“Write to the angel of the church in Ephesus: The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand and who walks among the seven gold lampstands says: I know your works, your labor, and your endurance, and that you cannot tolerate evil. You have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and you have found them to be liars. You also possess endurance and have tolerated many things because of My name and have not grown weary. But I have this against you: You have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember then how far you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. Otherwise, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place – unless you repent. Yet you do have this: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. Anyone who has an ear should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. I will give the victor the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in God’s paradise.” Revelation 2:1-7.

The message to the the church begins with praise and then calls for repentance. All the good they are doing doesn’t balance out the wrong. God makes it clear he commends their godly behavior but then he tells them they must repent for their sin. One good deed doesn’t wash away a wrong. This is very sobering. This should cause some discomfort and a searching of our heart. This should evoke some godly fear.

God does not wink at our sin. God does not ignore our sin. God does not downplay our sin. God doesn’t excuse our sin and say to the church, “it’s OK, your a New Testament church and it’s all about grace. Everyone has sinned and fallen short so I won’t bring it up.”

He points out their error and calls them to repentance. Repentance is part of the Christian faith. This letter was not written to the world but to the church. God is calling the church to repentance.

Let it be know, the church was doing some fantastic things. The church was hating evil, they labored and worked in the kingdom, recognized false apostles, and more. But God was not their principal affection. The English translation is “first love.” God is a jealous God. He will not compete. He must be first. He demands loyalty and faithfulness. Everything flows from that love relationship. Every part of your life will reflect that relationship.

Relationships can change if they are not taken care of. Relationships begin to die if they are taken for granted. When other things replace your relationship your desires and feelings move to the new object of your affections. God says to the church, remember how far you have fallen and do the works you first did. He is basically saying, “remember how you used to love me. Remember what you used to do because you loved me. Do it again.”

There are so many things this world uses to draw us away from our first love: money, approval of others, need for recognition, position, acceptance, attention, family, friends, desires, movies, sports, sensuality, career, and the list goes on. When we begin to compromise our relationship with God to satisfy the flesh we stop doing what we did at first because it’s in conflict with the nature of God.

The further we move from God the more worldly we become. Ask yourself what your new love relationship with Jesus looked like? Were you madly in love? What were you willing to do? What were you willing to give up? What was most important to you?

God is so proud of his children when they are doing well. God commends his church when they are doing right. God freely gives praise when it is deserved. He poured out praise to this first church. We all like that part. We all want to hear the good. Please, Lord, tell me how wonderful I am.

However, if that is all we were ever willing to receive, we would face some ugly consequences in the future. If we are not shown the error of our ways, how can we ever repent? Because God is good and loving, he corrects and rebukes us. He knows what we will reap when we sow to our flesh.

Don’t lose hope, my friend. After God calls them to repentance, he tells them the promise of their future blessing for doing so.

Here are some questions for you. Have left your first love? Think back to when you decided to follow Jesus. Remember when you repented and were baptized and then ask yourself, am I just as in love with Jesus today as I was back then? Are there things in the world I love more than God? Is my love for my old life causing me to return to my old ways? God is calling us all to repentance.