Return To Your First Love

Revelation 2:1-7 – A Letter to Ephesus: A Call to Revive our First Love

In Revelation 2:1-7, the apostle John records the first of seven letters addressed to the churches in Asia Minor. This particular letter is directed at the church in Ephesus and offers a mix of praise, correction, and warning, with a powerful invitation to return to a deeper, more passionate relationship with Christ.

Verse 1: The Divine Authority of Christ

The letter begins with a description of Christ as the one who holds the seven stars (the angels of the churches) in His right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands (representing the churches). This emphasizes Christ’s ongoing presence and authority over His church. He is not distant but intimately involved in the life of each congregation, guiding and caring for them.

Verse 2-3: The Praise – Hard Work and Perseverance

Christ acknowledges the Ephesians’ efforts. He commends them for their hard work, endurance, and commitment to purity. The church has done well in resisting false teachings and false apostles, testing those who claim to speak for God but have no genuine authority. They’ve stayed faithful despite hardships, and their perseverance is commendable. They haven’t grown weary, even when facing challenges in the name of Christ.

Verse 4: The Critical Point – A Lost Love

However, amidst all their hard work, Christ points out something that they’ve lost along the way: their first love. This doesn’t refer to a lack of activity or dedication, but rather to a cooling of their initial passion for Christ. At the beginning, their faith was fueled by love, love for Jesus and love for one another, but over time, that love has faded. They’ve become focused on duty and correctness at the expense of genuine, heartfelt devotion to Christ.

Verse 5: The Urgent Call – Repent and Return

Christ then calls the Ephesian church to remember where they’ve fallen short. They need to repent and return to the heart of their faith, the love they once had for Jesus. The consequences of not doing so are serious: if they do not turn back, Christ warns, He will remove their lampstand, essentially, He will withdraw His presence and their ability to be a light to the world. Their mission as a church will be rendered ineffective without love as its foundation.

Verse 6: A Silver Lining – Rejecting the Nicolaitans

Despite their failings, Christ offers a word of praise: they’ve rejected the Nicolaitans, a group associated with false teaching, likely advocating for compromise with the surrounding pagan culture or indulging in immoral practices. Christ commends them for not tolerating these heresies and for holding firm to sound doctrine. This demonstrates that standing for truth and morality is vital for the life of the church.

Verse 7: The Promise – Victory and Eternal Reward

Finally, the letter ends with a promise to the victorious: those who overcome and remain faithful will be granted access to the tree of life, a symbol of eternal life in God’s paradise. The tree of life, which was lost to humanity after the fall in Eden, is now offered again to those who endure and love Christ above all else.

Key Themes in the Letter to Ephesus

1. The Heart of the Faith – The central message of this passage is that love for Christ is paramount. While doctrinal purity and moral integrity are crucial, they cannot replace a deep, passionate relationship with Jesus. The Ephesian church had grown busy with religious duties and defense against false teaching, but they had lost the zeal and affection that should have fueled all of their work.

2. The Danger of Complacency - The Ephesians didn’t fall into sin immediately; they drifted from their first love. Over time, routine and effort overtook the emotional and spiritual passion that was once the center of their lives. The message for us is clear: spiritual apathy is a real danger. We must continually check our hearts and make sure our devotion to Christ is not growing cold.

3. Sound Doctrine and Moral Purity Matter - While the focus here is on love, it’s important to note that Christ still commends the church for their doctrinal integrity. Rejecting false teachers and standing firm in the faith are crucial, but they must come from a heart that loves God above all. It’s not enough to be right, one must also be in love with the truth.

4. The Eternal Reward - Jesus promises that those who remain faithful and return to their first love will be rewarded with the tree of life, an invitation to eternal life in God’s presence. This reward reminds us that the stakes are high, and the prize is worth the struggle: eternal communion with God in His paradise.

   
   

   Friends, I wrote this today with a heart for the true church of Christ to take their eyes off the "good" of their works and return to their first love. What does that look like for you? Are you serving in ministry, rejecting the false doctrine that have now found a place in the heart of people who call themselves believers, serving your family well, feeding the hungry, giving to the poor etc. All of these are important but cannot sit on the throne of your heart. My duty today is to herald a call to search our hearts, truly search our hearts, are you spending time in the presence of God the way you used to? Not to ask for anything but to sit with Him, love on Him, be with Him, dwell in His presence. When was the last time you tarried an hour with him? If the answers to these questions are no or you cannot remember, then reflect, search within asking the Holy Spirit to help you to search your heart, and when He helps you to see, if He shows you err in your heart, or that you have rejected your first love, or you have drifted from your first love.... repent, then recommit your heart and life to Him. When you are doing great works for the kingdom, for others and upholding moral integrity etc. it can be difficult to see or discern a heart that is far from Christ. Do not stand in err believing your works will save you, because in the text, the church of Ephesus was cautioned that their works though great, was not enough, God wanted their hearts. God wants your heart too!

   
   

   Christ will return for His bride, are you ready? Return to your first love, so He can help you to be made ready.