The Church Who Lost It’s First Love
“But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 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..” -Rev 2:4-5 (NASB)
Take a moment and read Rev 2:1-7. Then read it again and reflect on what happened to them…
Unbelievable!
Tragic!
Yet so applicable for the day we live in right now. Not only for churches but for all of us that identify as followers of Christ – real Christians. What I’m about to say applies, IMO, to the church and individual Christians – this is how I see it.
We can do and say all the right things and look good on the outside but the Ephesus church had a fatal flaw. Their church looked good and people were busy with the things a church is commended to do. But then Jesus turned from His commendations for what they were doing to the single most critical condemnation. The loss of their “first love”!
They were commended for “deeds and your labor and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil people“. Looking from the outside, these church-goers had it seemingly and outwardly together. Yet they did not and were in danger of having their lampstand removed or their church removed from existence! But none of them saw it. How similar to many, many of our Christian churches today!
AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.’ – Mark 12:30 (NASB)
The church that crossed all the “t’s” and dotted all the “i’s” no longer had the greatness of Christ as being number one in their lives. They gave their lives to other things, lots of busyness and a new set of what was important to them. They had adopted a mechanical faith in Christ.
It’s amazing that a church like the one at Ephesus being surrounded by paganism, worldliness and false teachers, could see the evil and falseness of their teachings but not call out the false teachers. Not to correct any of the false doctrines preached. Or even not to confront these heretical preachers and teachers and contend for the faith (Jude 1:3). Today, their are tons of false teachers in our churches, teaching doctrines of convenience, wealth, health and many other worldly things. And their congregations are swallowing it hook, line and sinker. How pathetic and sad.
So putting it all together, can you see what happened to them and what’s happening in our day…?
They lost their first love for the Lord! They substituted their works and looks for loving the Lord.
Friends, how many of the churches we attend today are in the same condition? How many go to church to be seen by others, to go hear a happy, non-convicting sermon, hear the pretty music or choir, or hear unGodly loud (ear shattering) rock music? How many come out of church more tired than they went in? Folks, please consider these things and if any has fallen away from their first love in Christ, to restart, regroup and realign their lives back to loving Jesus, loving Almighty God as their first and foremost priority in this life. According to God’s word we should – “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matt 6:33, KJV).
In conclusion then, it is good for us to do a self-examination to see if Jesus is still number ONE in our lives and our faith is built on Christ only and nothing else? I think the answer for all of us is a resounding – YES!
Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test?
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To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:
The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this:
1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate.
7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
–Rev 2:1-7(KJV)
-BPWatcher, Internet Preacher and Bible Prophecy Watchman
GIVE ALMIGHTY GOD ALL THE GLORY FOR HE IS KING and HE IS LORD!
