Remember Your First Love

By: Rev. Arnel C. Tan

“But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first!”
Rev. 2:4 NLT

When John, inspired by the Holy Spirit, wrote the letter from Jesus to the church of Ephesus, it was not addressed to a single individual… it was addressed to the whole church. It was a congregational indictment from God, letting them know that they had fallen so far from their first love. No one from the church was spared, everybody fell from loving God like they used to. This sends jitters up my spine when we assume intimacy with God… and yet God does not concur.

What is in the phrase “first love” that made Jesus long for it? During the early days of conversion, our focus was so clear. It was not about projects, it was about the person of Christ. Motives and ministries were outcomes of those lives totally surrendered to God and therefore, everything was done for Him. Rules were so insignificant as compared to a love relationship. In fact, prayer was central and worship was essentially done as response to God’s invitation to come into His Presence and feast on His words. “First love” was all about Christ!

Then things got too technical and rules quickly took over relationships. Efficiency was now the goal over spiritual depth. What made the situation critical was that the whole church thought they were all fine spiritually. The services and doctrinal prowess continued, sadly, so with the deception that all was well. Then the letter came… stating otherwise. I think it is critical that we see this situation as a corporate falling away rather than some individuals getting cold towards God.

If the whole church of the efficient Ephesians were guilty of not only forgetting but leaving their first love, it also required whole repentance from the whole church. We are not told how the church of Ephesus responded but we know what will happen to them if they don’t repent. Christ will remove their lampstand… meaning their light to the nations will no longer shine. Their services and militant watch for doctrine and missions may go on, yet they cease to be a church that is in love with the Lord. Just another busy efficient church minus the love, life and laughter. That will be the picture of this church. How tragic… how sad!

If you were the Pastor of the church at Ephesus, or a member of this same church, what would you do? Could it be that we are that church or on our way to being that church? The only way back is to repent and return… not to work, but to worship; not to projects, but to prayer; not to more presents, but more of His Presence. Before the lampstand is taken, someone must come and bridge the gap that we may all fall in love with Christ again.