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Introduction
In Revelation 1 Jesus told John to write messages to seven churches that were in Asia (modern-day Asia Minor). In each message to each church, Jesus had commendations, exhortations, and/or warnings. These messages not only applied to the churches of that time but can and should be accepted as lessons for us believers today if we wish to walk righteously with God. This article is part of seven lessons discussing the messages to the seven churches. In this article, we will talk about the church of Ephesus and this church’s relation with our love for God in all that we do.
Before we move on it should be noted that the seven churches of Revelation are not representations of seven church ages. There is no biblical teaching on the term “church age.” It should be understood that these seven churches were literal congregations with literal situations that relate to different circumstances throughout the Church’s history.
The Letter to Ephesus
“Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;” Revelation 2:1
The word angel in Revelation chapters 2-3 is not describing a heavenly being but an earthly messenger; so essentially the “angels” of the seven churches are really the pastors of these churches. (The word angel comes from the Greek word aggelos meaning “messenger.”) Jesus is seen holding the seven stars, representing the seven angels or pastors, in His right hand and He seen walking amid the seven golden candlesticks which represent the churches themselves. This is displaying Jesus’ authority over the pastors and the churches. It is also a reminder of what our Lord told us about us being in His hand and that no one can pluck us out of His hand.
“And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” John 10:28
After the introduction in Revelation 2:1, Jesus goes on in verses 2-3 to inform the pastor of the church of Ephesus of His knowledge of his works which he has done.
“I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.” Revelation 2:2-3
The Lord commended the messenger of the Ephesian church for his good works. He is an example of a believer who puts in good works for God while retaining an enduring faith that never fails even amid troubles. The messenger is also an example of a believer who resists evil and tests those who called themselves apostles, messengers sent by God. This is a reminder of how we as believers should remain vigilant with those who call themselves apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, or the like by assessing these sorts of people to know whether they be of God. Despite these commendations for the messenger, Jesus noted one element the pastor lacked.
“Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.” Revelation 2:4
As a Christian, our first love should be Jesus Christ. We are commanded to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and mind; this is according to Matthew 22:37.
“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.” Matthew 22:37
How do we love the Lord our God with our whole being? We do this by keeping His commandments.
“Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” John 14:23
It is only natural for you to keep all of God’s commandments, obey His law, and serve Him when you love Him with your whole being. However, keeping His commandments should not only be a mere obligation. We should do them out of pure love for Him. When you love somebody, you will do whatever and anything for that person because you have a desire to please them and make them happy. When we love God, it is a desire to keep His commandments in order that we please Him in every way.
The messenger of the church of Ephesus, while He was doing good works, had great faith, and did well in keeping the commandments, had turned away from his first love. This is something that we as believers should never allow ourselves to fall into. To turn away from our first love, which is Jesus, we will be merely just serving Him out of obligation, as though it is only a job that must be done. This is also how one can become religious. To have a religious spirit is to have a lofty attitude about your walk with God. You begin to believe that all your good works and law-keeping are enough to get you into the kingdom of heaven. But works without love and genuine dedication to God are fruitless; they are only the results of the religious commands of men who think of themselves as holier than others because they keep the law. This is the attitude the Pharisees had, which is why Jesus often rebuked them for it. Jesus said in Mark 7:7
“Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” Mark 7:7
While writing to the Corinthians Paul touched on the issue about charity (interpreted biblically as godly love towards others) and how without it we are nothing even if we have much faith and do good works for God and toward others.
“And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.”
1 Corinthians 13:2-3
None of the good works you do for God and for others will matter if you did not do them in love. Love is the key to serving God, for without it we can do nothing, and we are nothing. The saying “Jesus is love” goes so much deeper than people realize. He is the very essence of love and without Him we can do nothing, and we are nothing.
“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” John 15:5
It is crucial that we abide in Jesus if we are to succeed in life. Success is not about being rich with money or having a mansion on earth. It is about succeeding in righteousness and serving God in all things, with love being the motivation for all things and not the works themselves.
The pastor of the church of Ephesus was missing this love which should have been the driving motivation for all his good works and not the works themselves. Because of this, Jesus gave the messenger a stark warning about returning to his first love before he would end up losing his position as the leader of the congregation in Ephesus.
“Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.” Revelation 2:5
Again, it is essential that we do not backslide and not allow ourselves to become religious in our deeds or to begin looking at the service of God as some type of obligation. We must always adhere to the love of Christ, for it is because of His love for us why He died on the cross to save us from our sins. When we realize how much He loves us that He truly went out of His way to save us so we could be with Him forever, that should motivate us to love Him the same way. So, for the love of God, serve Him, and do it for love.