In the beginning of the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, our Lord instructed John, the Apostle, to write a letter to each of seven churches in Asia Minor. The first of these letters was written to the church at Ephesus. In that letter our Lord commended the church saying, “I know thy works, and thy labor, 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 labored, and hast not fainted” (Revelation 2:2-3). These are noteworthy commendations indeed especially coming from Christ himself.
It is evident the believers in Ephesus loved righteousness, truth and persevered in labors for their Lord. Even so, Christ who knew all their works added, “Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love” (Revelation 2:4). This departure on their part was not inconsequential. It grieved our Lord for he commanded them “Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works” (Revelation 2:5).
What happened to these believers in Ephesus? They were evidently faithful to the Lord Jesus in serving him. They preached the word, pointed out error, and served Christ faithfully with their tithes and offerings. Like churches today, perhaps they had choir practice, vacation bible school, youth groups, etc. As time progressed, however, the busyness of life squeezed the love for Christ out of their labors and their works became just that – work, and nothing more.
It was this loveless labor that Christ censored. Their love for the Savior and their devotion to the one ‘who loved [them] and washed [them] from their sins in his own blood” (Revelation 1:5) had been eclipsed by far lesser things. The important thing to bear in mind is that believers today are just as prone to this cold-hearted Christianity as the Ephesians were in their day. Part of the reason this fault of theirs is recorded for us is to recognize the readiness of our own inclinations and take steps to prevent its occurrence.
Two thoughts from Scripture may help. First, Luke records for us the necessity and benefit of reflecting on the greatness of forgiven sins. Jesus was in Simon’s house and a woman came and anointed his feet with ointment. Jesus speaks to this act of love proceeding from her gratitude for sins forgiven. “Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven – for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little” (Luke 7:47). Perhaps, our love for the Savior has diminished because we have lost sight of how much we have been forgiven.
Second, Peter gives his audience a list of things to pursue that they would be “neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:8). He then warns “he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins” (2 Peter 1:9). It is clear from his instructions that growing in our Christian faith is imperative to keeping our hearts warm with gratitude from the knowledge of sins forgiven.
How about you? Are your sins forgiven? Do you live in light of that forgiveness with a growing love for the Savior? Are you growing in your walk of faith with him?
