The last book of the Bible records a stinging rebuke to a church at Ephesus in Chapter 2. The apostle John, under the direction of the Holy Spirit writes letters to the leaders of seven churches. There are those who question whether these were written to real churches or were figurative in nature. I remind the reader that the Bible says in 2 Timothy 3:16. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: KJV.” No matter who they were written to this is valid teaching for us in this day. Over the last ten years the Holy Spirit has brought me back to that passage many times and in particular to the letter to the church at Ephesus. I was prompted to share this portion of Revelation 2 on the first night of our Elder's Retreat in 1997. At the time I had no idea why I was so prompted to share it. But I did. As I read it I was actually hoping for someone to give some confirmation that it was right for that time. There was no confirmation. There was no indication of recognition from the group. That night I was disappointed. I had no idea why nobody else saw anything here. I knew there were ones there who were spiritual and heard from God. Today I am sure I know why I read the passage, it was for that time, and not a single one of us in that group were spiritual enough to recognize it. Read the passage with me.
Rev 2:1-7
1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
(KJV)
Over the years many in the church have taught on this passage and have emphasized and in some cases twisted the various aspects, but God keeps bringing me back to verse four.
"Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love"
I have pondered this many times. Questions I have asked: "Is this to the church today?" "Is it to the local body I attend?" And more important, "What is our first love?" And then I found a note in the margin of my Bible that I had written some time before. "The great commandment." I find that when God gives me something like that it is for some appointed time.
The first two questions are easy for me, if God is pointing this out to me so often it is at least our own body if not the Church Universal. As I see Him reveal more to me, I have come to see this passage as a rebuke of our own body and of the church universal. "What is our first love?" I am likely to run afoul of religious correctness (RC from here on) because everyone KNOWS our first love is to God. And it is. But let us examine this premise in the light of the scripture.
I Jn 4:20
20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
(KJV)
Oops. If I do not love my brother, can I love God? And if I cannot love God, haven't I lost my first love? The thread of this love one for another is consistent through the scripture. It oft talks of the love for each other in the Body of Christ. If I have left my love for those of the fellowship, I have lost my first love.
1Thes 4:9
9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.
