A church with good doctrine and deeds, but with heart trouble...
Jesus says to the church at Ephesus, well versed in knowledge of the Bible and doctrinal issues (having been taught by Paul, Aquila and Priscilla, Timothy and John):
| I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet, what I do hold against you: You have forsaken the love you had for me at first: You have left (abandoned) not lost your love for Me. (Revelation 2:1-7) |
By all appearances the church in Ephesus is working hard, has outreach programmes, but their passion (their heart for the Lord) is missing. All the t's have been crossed and the i's dotted, but the original passion for the Lord has been forsaken. The people have been so busy fighting battles that they have neglected their relationship with Jesus. Jesus feels forsaken.
EPHESUS was a thriving metropolis, but also had the Temple of Diana in its midst, where many sexual immoralities were taking place. Jesus knew the temptations faced by the leaders and congregants, temptations that are also true for our church today.
It is important to remember that when losing a relationship, we do not know where to find it, but when it is a deliberate act of leaving a relationship to focus on one's own battles, we need to acknowledge we are choosing to follow our own way. Everything looks great on the outside, but Jesus knows where our heart is and where the heart of the problem lies.
Without the love of Jesus, all is done in vain. You cannot say you love God and not his family, or love winning in battle without the love of God.
Into this serious heart condition, Jesus says: Go back to basics. Go back to the very first things, when you first fell in love with Me AND remember (bring into the present):
1. How you used to spend time in the Word.
2. Remember how you used to pray.
3. Remember how you used to have joy in getting together with other Christians.
Unless you repent, Jesus says, I will remove your light and my presence. I will remove you from Paradise, the place where God resides.
Go back to your first love, and build on the tender relationship with Jesus. The heart trouble will be healed and the battles will subsequently be won. Return to your first love. Whoever has ears to hear, take heed and overcome the heart disease so prevalent among those who are fighting the battles of immorality and idolatry and other issues alone (as seen among the Nicalotians), and remember your first love and fan, yes, fan into flame your love with Jesus once more.
Amen.
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Rev. Dr. Pat Baxter was previously the Ministry Secretary of the UPCSA and presently the Senior Minister of St. John the Evangelist United Church in Benmore.
