Remembering the First Love

Wandering in the Wilderness: Remembering the First Love

Sunday, July 12, 2020   

Revelation 2:1-7 (1218)

Introduction  

            The seven letters in The Revelation are written by Jesus. They are report cards, so to speak. It is important to remember that Jesus told John to, “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea” and “Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this.” (Rev. 1:11; 19)

The churches are being graded on both present and future qualities. In other words, they were literal church communities and types of church communities, and types of Christians. Therefore, when we read the letters from Jesus, we ought to take heed to what the Lord is saying about the kind of Christians we are now and are becoming. We ought to think carefully about the Church and its communal identity. How do our choices impact the efficacy of local churches as a light of Christ?

 

READ: Revelation 2:1-7

            When you think about “forsaking your first love,” what comes to mind? Is this anything like a man who falls deeply in love with a woman, then marries her and starts a family only to abandon them for the sake of providing for them? His pursuit of success and the “need” for respite from his endeavors combine with the allure of the corporate culture to make him a good provider but and absentee parent. The first love is gone, and the family is only a shadow.

Ready for the Promise Realized

            The people of God today are like those of the Exodus in that they are citizens of another kingdom who are wandering a dangerous wilderness as they await the fulfillment of the Promised Land. They attend to daily living even as they watch the sky for the movement of God’s holy glory. They remain ready to let go of their comforts and follow the Lord in an instant. However, their daily routines can combine with the Lord’s apparent stillness to cause spiritual laziness. Or worse, cold-hearted religious routines that foster false complacency.

            The Church at Ephesus struggled with these tensions. It appears that false teaching helped to promote unhealthy spiritual habits. Their first pastor, the Apostle Paul, warned them against it saying, “I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.” (Acts 20:29 – 30) Later, when Paul left Timothy in Ephesus, he urged Timothy to, “charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith. (1 Timothy 1:3 – 7; 2 Timothy 1:15)

            It appears that, while the Church at Ephesus improved in its doctrinal discernment, it had also grown cold-hearted. Churches and their leaders often succumb to this dilemma. In their zeal to root out heresy and to produce true worship, they become more devoted to the ideal than to the Lord, and they become cruel and judgmental toward others. They will often claim their right to do so because of their family name or status among their peers. “Nicolaitans” appears to refer to a sect that promoted decadence and immorality even as they professed to be Christians. Beliefs like those caused considerable trouble in the Church. Ephesian pastors stood patiently and solidly against immorality, for which they were commended. But their dogmatic legalism made them unduly harsh with maturing Christians, and often ignorant of the poor and oppressed among them.

Conclusion

            The people of God range from those who are thoroughly devoted to the Kingdom and those whose love is superficial and motivated by the promise of life after death. Unfortunately, both extremes can lead believers and churches to become like Ephesus. Some church folk can be sanctimonious and self-righteous. They are quick to condemn others like the one of whom Jesus said, “Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but does not notice the log that is in your own eye?” (Matthew 7:3) Other church folks will make a half-hearted effort at attending to their relationship with Christ even while they pursue all the creature comforts. Jesus said of them, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21) When the Church becomes too devoted to its doctrine and dogma, it no longer worships and serves the Lord, but itself. At that point, it ceases to be the Church and becomes a religion. The only cure for this terminal illness is repentance.

            The current wilderness journey presents us with the opportunity to evaluate our relationship with God and with each other. We have a chance to reset our priorities and to strive for Jesus’ commendation. Our Master assures us that, those who overcome the temptations of false teaching and natural attractions to fleshly indulgence and worldly ease are promised access to the Tree of Life. This means the faithful will enjoy everlasting life in the heart of God’s presence.