Revelation 2:4-5
carries a stern declaration and warning to the church at Ephesus, “But I have
this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore
from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not,
I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.”
(ESV)
In these scriptures,
the Lord Jesus, not once, but twice calls them to repentance. When something is
repeated, take note, it is important. The seriousness of their sin
is underscored by the threat of the removal of their lampstand (their church
ceasing to exist) if they do not return to the love they had in the beginning.
The love spoken
of is the love that bubbles up out of us, given to us from the heart of God. It
overflows onto those around us in one big love feast, because we have been
touched by the love of Jesus. With this love we minister to others and walk in
His power and strength. When a group of believers
is awash in this love God is glorified and able to accomplish His purposes
through them.
While the church
at Ephesus did not tolerate evil, had good doctrine, patiently endured and held aloft Christ’s name, yet
the one thing they lacked was so essential Jesus could not let their church continue
without it. What was their deficiency? The deep love they once had for
Jesus and each other.
Without the
energizing power and supernatural miracle of God’s love it is easy for us to start relying on our own fleshly powers, human
wisdom and strength. This is why Jesus told them to repent, twice, making it
abundantly clear they could only operate to please him in the power of His
love. He would not allow them to continue as they were, profaning the name of
God through their doctrinally correct, but loveless actions.
Jesus must be
the center, the head of His Body, the church. If
His love is not pouring through you to those around, turn towards Jesus, pray, confess, repent, and surrender to His love.
To the angel
of the church in Ephesus write: 'The words of him who holds the seven stars in
his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.
"'I
know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear
with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and
are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing
up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary. But I
have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen;
repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and
remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. Yet
this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He who
has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who
conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of
God.'
Revelation
2:1-7, ESV
