FIRST LOVE—IS IT FERVENT OR FADING?

In the book “Flickering Lamps” by Henry and Richard Blackaby, we read this vital truth about the church at Ephesus—and the Spirit’s application for us today:

As you would expect with such a solid spiritual foundation, the Christians at Ephesus did many things well. They tested those who called themselves apostles and exposed the charlatans (Rev. 2:2). They also despised the heretical teachings of the Nicolaitans. Having been instructed by teachers such as Paul, Timothy, and John, their doctrine remained orthodox. They also refused to tolerate evil (Rev. 2:2). The church continued to labor, persevere, and endure trials such as the esteemed apostle John’s arrest. For the most part, the church’s behavior was admirable. 

The church at Ephesus must have been gratified to hear Christ commend them for so many behaviors but devastated when He declared, “But I have this against you” (Rev. 2:5). How sublime it is when Christ has no caveats in His evaluation of a church or individual! However, it is foolhardy to assume we can tolerate one sin as long as the majority of our activities are praiseworthy. It only takes one sin to make us deserving of judgment. 

What made the transgression of the Ephesian church so reprehensible was the nature of their sin: “… you have abandoned the love you had at first” (Rev. 2:4). Christ had called the Ephesian church into a personal, loving relationship with Himself. Nothing is more important than that. The Ephesian church had a solid list of exceptional behavior. They only had one shortcoming. One sin negated everything that was praiseworthy, for they had neglected what was most important. In their zeal to be doctrinally, morally, and methodologically orthodox, their hearts had shifted from their Savior. They were still working for Christ, but they were no longer devoted to Him as they once had been. They had overlooked the most important mandate of all: to love the Lord God with all of their heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30). 

Christ’s response to the church’s waning love was decisive: “Remember then how far you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. Otherwise, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent” (Rev. 2:5). Christ’s declaration might appear harsh. After all, the church’s conduct was generally admirable. But Christ will not tolerate a church that forgets its purpose. A church that forfeits its highest calling is in danger not only of losing its way, but more importantly, of suffering God’s judgment. The church at Ephesus had no time to lose. It needed to return wholeheartedly to its Lord. Despite its fidelity to proper doctrine, the Ephesian church was unacceptable to God. Clearly, even the most influential churches in the world can lose their way. (pp.  19-21, Kindle Version)

Doctrinally sound and missionally active churches may yet be headed for spiritual decline—if they have “left their first love.”  We need to be orthodox theologically, but as Vance Havner said, “You can be straight as a gun barrel theologically and empty as one spiritually.”  Missions and ministries will only be fruitful, if we are abiding in the Vine—in a vital love relationship with Christ—or else we may luxurious leaves, but no luscious fruit. Soon the leaves will wither and the branch is dead and removed.

Lord, rekindle the fire of fervent love for You in our churches today!

RESTORED

So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”  (John 21:15) 

The old car sits rusting in a field—an eyesore that once roared down the highway.  Then, one day, someone buys the decaying carcass, takes it into his garage, where with skilled hands, the vintage vehicle is restored—a classic car now turning heads as it speeds again across the asphalt. 

This is the message of the Gospel.  It is what Christ will do to a life wrecked by sin.  Peter experienced such a restoration as recorded in the twenty-first chapter of John’s Gospel.  Three times he had denied Jesus and now three times Christ asks him if he loves Him.  It was as Peter stood by the distinctive smell of a charcoal fire that his failure occurred and it would be again beside a charcoal fire that Peter’s forgiveness will be experienced.  Peter’s denials had been in public and now his repentance must be done in public as well. 

Each time, Jesus confronts Peter with the question, “Do you love Me?” followed by Peter’s affirmation of that love and concluded with a commission by Christ.  In the first case, Jesus asks if Peter loves Him more than the other disciples do.  This took the fisherman’s mind back to when Jesus predicted that they would all abandon Him in His hour of trial, and Peter’s response was to assure the Lord that though the rest of the disciples did, he would stand firm.  The Rock—for so his name meant—became Jello and slid into the shadows.  Now, his bravado is banished and Peter makes no such claim to love Christ in a way superior to his colleagues. He does say that he loves Jesus, but the love Christ inquires about is agape—God’s kind of love—while Peter acknowledges a lesser love using the word phileo—brotherly love.  Humility has replaced his swagger after his denials of Christ.  Then Jesus told him to prove it by feeding His lambs.  Peter would always recall this and later charge pastors to feed God’s flock with Scripture (1 Pet.5:2).  Our love for the church equates to love for Christ—and will be expressed not by profession, but action. 

A second time Jesus confronts Peter—not asking about his love in comparison to his comrades—instead targeting Peter’s love specifically.  Peter’s response is identical; Christ’s is different.  He tells the fisherman to “Tend my sheep.”  Shepherds are responsible not only to feed the sheep, but lead the sheep—guiding them for they tend to wander and guarding them for they are defenseless against predators.  The specific term Jesus uses here means, “little sheep.”  In the first commission, He refers to lambs and now little sheep—the next stage of their growth.  God’s people need tending at every stage of their spiritual development. 

The final time Jesus condescends to meet Peter at his level asking him if he indeed has phileo love for Him.  Peter, doubtless under conviction over his denials, is grieved and appeals to the Lord’s omniscience, “You know all things; You know that I love You.”  Jesus again calls on Peter to feed his sheep—and the word denotes a mature sheep.  We never grow beyond our need for the Word. 

Jesus is in the restoration business.  If you have failed, you can be forgiven—and brought to a place of usefulness again.

LOVING CHRIST

Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair.  And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.  (John 12:3)

Of the three virtues that will outlast the world--faith, hope and love--the Bible declares that the greatest of these is love.  Jesus said the greatest commandment is to love God with all our being.  Love is the all-encompassing command.  It distills all God’s expectations down to one word.  The content of Scripture can be summarized as God loves us, we are to love Him, and if we love Him, then we love those made in His image.  John 12:1-8, in the act of Mary, provides a beautiful illustration of loving Christ.

THE LIFE THAT LOVES IS MARKED BY FULLNESS.  She had a pound of luxurious oil and she didn’t spare an ounce, lavishing it all on the Lord.  Such love is extravagant (v.3-5).  The price was equivalent to a year’s salary.  My love for my wife moves me to buy her roses, to take her to a fancy restaurant, and to place gold and diamonds on her fingers.  If we love Christ, we will be willing to give extravagantly of our time and treasure in serving Him.  When was the last time it cost you to serve God?

The fullness of such love is also exclusive.  Mary only poured the oil on Jesus.   She did not share it with the disciples.  My wife and I have exchanged vows of fidelity.   If we would give ourselves to another that would be adultery!  Jesus, likewise, demands our exclusive affection—or it is spiritual adultery!

THE LIFE THAT LOVES IS MARKED BY FRAGRANCE.  The perfume permeated the place.  Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 14-16 that we are the fragrance of Christ—a perfume to believers and a stench of death to the wicked.   Such a life produces attraction. Writing the account years later, John can still smell the aroma in his memory.  We are drawn to this story like bees to nectar.  We do not know what Mary looked like in face and form, but there is a beauty that is heavenly in her soul that is eminently attractive.  So our lives need to draw people to God.  We need to be winsome in order to win some.  This kind of life further produces antagonism.  The self-centered Judas is repulsed by Mary’s deed.  He thinks this is fanaticism.  Those who despise Christ will denigrate those who love Him.  People may be attracted by our testimony or angered by it—they won’t be apathetic to it!  The life that loves Christ makes a difference.

THE LIFE THAT LOVES IS MARKED BY FELLOWSHIP.  What are the features of such fellowship?  Note her position.  She kneels at His feet.  We submit to Him as Lord, when we truly love Him.  Also, there is her perception.  Only Mary perceived the message of the cross and resurrection that Jesus had been teaching about, and so she anointed Him for burial.  Intimate fellowship brings deeper insight into the ways of God.  Further, this love life features her passion.  Christ was her life!  Our love for Him cannot be tepid—it demands to be aflame.  Then, we see her praise.   In Mark’s account, Jesus says, “Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.”  (14:9)  We are fulfilling that again today.

Will we respond to Jesus like Mary did?

JUST ONE THING

Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.  (Revelation 2:4)

If this church were in your town, you would want to join it.  Preachers would jump at the chance to pastor it.  The First Baptist Church of Ephesus would lead the denomination in every category.  This was as close to a perfect church as you might get.  You probably wouldn’t find anything wrong.  Still, it is not man’s opinion that matters, but the judgment of Christ.  What did He have to say?

He began with commending them about the many good works they were doing (v.1-3).  The members were busy in the service of the Lord—a beehive of activity.  They were not only diligent, they were discerning—holding to the truth.  They would not tolerate a liberal in the pulpit.  In a culture filled with corruption, they were not contaminated.  They were marked with energy and endurance despite the hostile environment.  Wouldn’t it be wonderful if all churches possessed these qualities?

Then comes the, “but,” and with it the complaint Jesus levels.  “Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.”  (v.4) They didn’t lose their first love, as you will hear it at times misquoted.  To lose it means that this failure may have slipped up on them, which would have been bad enough.  Instead, they made a deliberate decision that brought this condition.  They chose work over worship.  Personal intimacy with God was set aside for public efforts before men.  The latter gets you pats on the back and strokes the ego.  Neglecting the former, however, disconnects us from the source of blessing—the church finding itself on a religious treadmill, running feverishly, but not going anywhere.

It happens in marriages.  The relationship begins with a flame of passion.  After the honeymoon, the couple begins to turn attention to buying a home, making a living, raising the children—not doing bad things, but decisions that cause them to drift apart.  Then comes the sad news that shocks us—the marriage is in trouble.  It seems to us like it was a sudden thing, but little by little, they had left their first love.  We do that with Christ.  The church at Ephesus did.

There was a cure for their ills prescribed by the Divine Counselor (v.5).  They were to remember the love they once had for Christ.  Then, they were to repent by confession of their neglect and commitment to rekindling the romance.  Worship must assume preeminence again.  The relationship rather than the resume’ must be built.

The consequences of failing would be severe.  God basically tells them, “I will turn the lights out.”  They did not heed the warning.  That thriving church declined and died.  You can tour ruins unearthed by the archaeologist in ancient Ephesus, but you will find no thriving church.  It is happening to local churches all across America.

Still there is the promise to those who overcome—who resist the temptation to leave their first love (v.6-7).  Let us listen and learn—or our church can go out of business as well!