First Love

John captures in the opening to the book of Revelation (John's Apocalypse, et al, to the non-American World) with an address to the Seven Church's.  Lots of arguments as to why seven, why these, etc - but this is not what this post is about.  Ephesus is the one we want to look at today.

Revelation 2:1-7, consider verse 5

If you are a normal human being, you have a first love - even I had one.  Think back to the exhilaration of that love ...  There is an excitement associated with even thinking about that person.  Yeah, I know, humans rarely can maintain that first love - because one or the other or both will go their own way and leave a wound behind.  (Probably how God feels about us at times ... sigh)  But, try to remember that instinctual euphoria you felt, perhaps as  a teenager - for that very special person!  (Yes, even with almost complete anesthesia I can at least remember that much!  And, the pain of utter rejection.)

You want to be with them, around them, you think about them, they literally take all of your waking attention and perhaps your dreams as well.  Sigh ...

And God is telling John about how the Church of Ephesus needs to remember their first love.

Now Paul had founded the church, Timothy had been a pastor there and the Apostle John was the overseer of the churches throughout the area.  It was in Ephesus John was arrested and sent to Patmos, was thrown in boiling oil to kill him for his Christian belief, was as an old man to be carried by bearers throughout his ministry area to continue when he no longer could walk.

Remember That First Love
Of course we are talking about the word used here: Agape - God's divine love.

If you can not remember your first love, then your lampstand will be removed in Heaven - a harsh consequence.

If you can remember your first love, then you will will be allowed to eat of the Tree of Life - a blessing.

Reignite That Passion
For your first love - Jesus.
Change your mind, change your direction, repent of your abandonment of your love.

Relaunch That Lifestyle
Do what you did at first!
Repent!
Restart that relationship.
Relive the euphoria.

Of course, we learn from history that the Church of Ephesus flourished and certainly had a witness for centuries.  However, in time, the harbor was to silt up and the town essentially abandoned.  And what happened to that original church?  Those faithful believers that God called back?  Well at least I wonder ...

And they faded away?

No not really.  In truth many whom are reading this are descendants in the faith from those first early Christians.  I know the name of whose witness led me to the Lord, but not whom led her or further back - what is the string of witnesses?  Yes, we are all the product of the ministry of the Holy Spirit and its witness - including bringing those physical witnesses into our life.  It would be cool to know if you were the product of John's witness or Paul's or Peter's or ....  But, in the end that has nothing to do with our relation ship with Jesus or God the Father.

And like those in Ephesus, we need to vigilant that we do not leave our first love for God ...