Revelation 2:1-7

Imagine you wrote a letter to your loved one which included a list of 10 things that you needed them to do in order to maintain a healthy and growing relationship with each other. The first item on the list had a big star in the margin to denote the importance over the other 9.  Additionally, you had other people call and text your loved one, reminding them of the importance of the first item on the list.  In the beginning, the number one item was always done, but, over time, and with all the busyness of life, your loved one no longer thought much about doing the number one thing. 

Is this what happened to the church of Ephesus? Did they lose sight of the number one thing on the list, the greatest commandant of all: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” (Matthew 22:37 ESV)? My study bible suggests that the church was busy.  Did the busyness of life lead them to substitute labor for love and ignore spending time in fellowship with Christ?  Did they let indifference and complacency seep into their midst? Did they cease to fight for a heart that had grown cold? 

John’s letter does not tell us why the church of Ephesus abandoned their “first love” but we are given the consequences of such action.  Jesus says in Revelation 2:5b: “I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.” The role of the church has always been to let the light of Jesus shine through to a dark world but, when the works of the church become mechanical and the love of Jesus is not seen in its members, the church fails. Charles Spurgeon writes: “Adhesion to the truth sours into bigotry when the sweetness and light of love to Jesus depart.” Remember, Jesus commended the church for their hard work, perseverance, their intolerance of wickedness and their steadfast adherence to the truth. They were checking off items on the list, but ignoring the most important.

I wonder how the church of Ephesus responded when they read the letter from John?  Did they fall to their knees and ask for forgiveness or did the ice surrounding their heart thicken?  Where’s your heart today?  Are you serving in the church so you can check it off a list or are you serving because your heart is full of love for Jesus?  We will fight over a parking space, a place in line to buy sports or entertainment tickets, or the price of a new shiny car but, are we willing to fight for a wandering heart? Are you willing to struggle against indifference, complacency, and the numbing influence of the world in order to love Jesus and others?  I would like to believe the church of Ephesus fell to their knees and began reciting the Psalms: “Search me, oh God, and know my heart.  Try me and know my thoughts.” (Psalms 139:23).  “With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments.” (Psalms 119:10) Will you do the same?

Brenda Wooff