First, to avoid or reverse the effects of losing the first love, we must remember our past condition. In the letter to the church at Ephesus, Jesus commended their actions, but criticized their attitude. Their actions were good. Jesus knew of their good deeds, hard work, patience, and firm stand for pure doctrine, even against false teachers and dangerous religious sects. In spite of all of these good things, their attitude was wrong. Jesus had one thing against them; they left their first love. (vv. 1-4)
What is the first love? The word translated "first" does not mean only first chronologically, but also first in significance. I believe the first love is a love for God that is expressed through love for people. (See Mark 12:29-31; John 13:34-35; 1 Cor. 13:1-3; 1 John 4:20-21)
Jesus instructs the church to remember from where they have fallen. (v.5) The first step to reversing the effects of losing the first love is to remember what that first love is like. After we have been in the church for a while, we get so caught up in our knowledge and achievements, that we sometimes forget what it was like when we were first saved, when all we knew was that we loved God, and loved His people. When that happens, we need to remember from where we have fallen. Doctrine without compassion is useless. Keep the main thing the main thing. Love God. Love people.
Second, to avoid or reverse the effects of losing the fist love, not only must we remember our past condition, we must also repent of our present condition. Jesus tells the church to “repent” – to think differently. They need to change their thinking. Jesus also tells the church to “do the first works” – do what is most important. (v.5)What they were doing was good, but they were missing the main thing – love. Jesus warns that He will remove their lampstand if they do not repent – they will cease to be a church (see Rev. 1:20) When we realize that we are focused on the wrong things, we need to do something about it. We need to prayerfully change our thinking – think about it the way God thinks about it, they way He has said in His word. We need to focus our efforts on what is most important; don’t get bogged down in things that make no eternal difference.
Third, to avoid or reverse the effects of losing the first love, not only must we remember our past condition and repent of our present condition, we must also recognize our projected condition. Jesus issues a call to perceive and follow the Spirit’s directions. We must hear and follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit. We need to ask God for the filling and guidance of the Holy Spirit (See Luke 11:13.). (v.7) Jesus also issues a promise, a projection of things to come: the overcomer will eat of the tree of life in Paradise – eternal life for those who persevere to the end Real faith endures to the end. A faith that does not persevere, is not real faith. Jesus’ projections are always right. Eternal life is promised for those who are sealed by the Holy Spirit, to those who persevere to the end.
To avoid or reverse the effects of losing the first love, we must remember our past condition, repent of our present condition and recognize our projected condition. The question is, how will you respond? If Jesus were writing a letter to you, what would He say? Perhaps He would invite you to follow Him. Perhaps He would invite you to renew your commitment to Him. Respond to His invitation today.
To learn more about how to follow Jesus, click here.
To find a good church where you can grow in your faith, click here.
This is a synopsis of a sermon presented on 4-19-2009 at Hatch Bend Baptist Church, by Paul A. Coleman.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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