Revelation 2:1-7: a reflection

1“To the angel of the assembly in Ephesus write: “He who holds the seven stars in his right hand, he who walks among the seven golden lamp stands says these things: 2“I know your works, and your toil and perseverance, and that you can’t tolerate evil men, and have tested those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and found them false. 3You have perseverance and have endured for my name’s sake, and have not grown weary. 4But I have this against you, that you left your first love. 5Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent and do the first works; or else I am coming to you swiftly, and will move your lamp stand out of its place, unless you repent. 6But this you have, that you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of my God.

To the church at Ephesus, Christ gives real commendation for their works and perseverance, but then names one serious thing against them: they have left their first love. I know your works, your toil and perseverance, Christ says; but I have this against you, that you left your first love. Remember from where you have fallen, and repent, and do the first works. The Ephesians were hardworking, persevering, sound in doctrine, intolerant of evil; and yet they had lost something essential: the first love, the warm, fervent love for Christ they had at the beginning. Their works continued, but the love had cooled. And Christ calls them to remember, repent, and return to that first love. This shows the danger of losing our first love for Christ even while keeping up our works. We can keep up our works yet lose our first love for Christ. Losing our first love for Christ is a serious thing. Return to the first, fervent love for Christ. Christ calls us back to our first love.

Notice what Christ commends and what he holds against the Ephesians. He commends much: their works, their hard toil, their perseverance, their sound rejection of evil and of false apostles. By many measures, they were doing well. And yet Christ says he has this against them: they had left their first love. The warm, fervent love for Christ they had at the first had cooled; their works continued, but the love that should animate them had faded. And Christ takes this seriously, calling them to remember how far they had fallen, to repent, and to return to the first works that flowed from that first love. This is a searching word for us. We can keep up our Christian works, our activity, our perseverance, our correct beliefs, and yet lose the first love, the warm and fervent love for Christ himself that should be the heart of it all. Our works can continue while our love grows cold. And Christ is not content with works without love; he wants our first love, our hearts warm toward him. When we find our love for Christ has cooled, even while our activity continues, the call is to remember, repent, and return to that first love. Do not let your first love for Christ grow cold while keeping up your works. Christ wants our love, not just our works and activity. Return to the first, fervent love for Christ. Remember, repent, and rekindle your love for Christ.

That is worth taking to heart, for we can keep up our works and yet lose our first love for Christ, and the call is to remember, repent, and return to that first love, as Christ called the Ephesians. We can maintain our activity, perseverance, and correct beliefs, and yet let the warm, fervent love for Christ grow cold; but Christ held it against the Ephesians that they had left their first love, and called them to return to it. Christ wants our love, not just our works. When you find your love for Christ has cooled, do not be content with mere activity; remember, repent, and return to your first love. Do not be content to keep up your works while your first love for Christ grows cold, but remember, repent, and return to that first, fervent love, as Christ, to the church at Ephesus, gave real commendation for their works, toil, perseverance, and rejection of evil, but held this against them, that they had left their first love, calling them to remember from where they had fallen, repent, and do the first works; for the Ephesians were hardworking, persevering, and sound, and yet had lost something essential, the warm, fervent love for Christ they had at the beginning, so that their works continued but the love that should animate them had cooled, and Christ took this seriously, since he is not content with works without love but wants our first love, our hearts warm toward him, which is a searching word for us, since we can keep up our Christian works, activity, perseverance, and correct beliefs and yet lose the first love for Christ himself that should be the heart of it all, our works continuing while our love grows cold, so that when we find our love for Christ has cooled even while our activity continues, the call is to remember, repent, and return to that first love.

Lord Jesus, to the church at Ephesus you give real commendation for their works and perseverance, but then name one serious thing against them: they have left their first love. I know your works, your toil and perseverance, you say; but I have this against you, that you left your first love. Remember from where you have fallen, and repent, and do the first works. The Ephesians were hardworking, persevering, sound in doctrine, intolerant of evil; and yet they had lost something essential: the first love, the warm, fervent love for you they had at the beginning. Their works continued, but the love had cooled. And you call them to remember, repent, and return to that first love. Show me what you commend and what you hold against the Ephesians. You commend much: their works, their toil, their perseverance, their rejection of evil. By many measures, they were doing well. And yet you say you have this against them: they had left their first love. The warm, fervent love for you they had at the first had cooled; their works continued, but the love that should animate them had faded. And you take this seriously. This is a searching word for me. I can keep up my Christian works, my activity, my perseverance, my correct beliefs, and yet lose the first love, the warm and fervent love for you yourself that should be the heart of it all. My works can continue while my love grows cold. And you are not content with works without love; you want my first love, my heart warm toward you. Take that to my heart, for I can keep up my works and yet lose my first love for you. When I find my love for you has cooled, even while my activity continues, keep me from being content with mere activity; help me remember, repent, and return to my first, fervent love for you, Lord, rekindling my heart's love for you.