“Faithful to Your First Love- Ephesus”  Rev. 2:1-7

Last week I began a summer mini-series on “A Word from Jesus to the Church” from the book of Revelation.  I left something very important out last Sunday that we skip over when we read it.  It is found in chapter 1 verse 10: “On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit.”  By the time Revelation was written, everyone knew what day he was speaking of- the Lord’s Day is Sunday.  The early Christians really celebrated two holidays a week- Saturday and Sunday— which was the beginning of the weekend.  The Jewish Christians still kept the Saturday Sabbath, but Sunday was the day they gathered to remember Jesus’ resurrection and to have Christian worship.  Eventually for Christians Sunday became the Christian Sabbath Day.  The whole day was devoted to Christ, which is why they called Sunday “The Lord’s Day.”  Every Sunday we are here to celebrate the resurrection of Christ.  Since colonial times, South Carolina has seen that it is important to have a day of rest, and that Sunday.  It also points out that John believed that each church had an angel who shone as bright as a lamp or a star.  The seven stars and lampstands mentioned- represent the seven churches John is writing to.  It is interesting to think that Lake Murray Presbyterian has an angel watching over her.

[Read Rev. 2:1-7]

            This past week I traveled to York County for a funeral, and I heard there a Revolutionary story about the Presbyterian churches there.  There were three Presbyterian Churches that began with a B- and most of the Patriots that fought against the British in the region were from these churches.  The British burnt two of the three churches down, and called them “The three Bees—because they were buzzing with Patriots.”  But the Presbyterians didn’t join the fight on the patriot side until the lowcountry patriot governor agreed to freedom of religion.  Then they joined in whole-heartedly.  What a love for country those early Presbyterians had. I wish we could get back to that love again.  They were willing to sacrifice their church, their lives, their everything for the freedom we celebrate this week. 

            The key phrase of this passage is to return to your first love.  This is an important phrase of life.

Wouldn’t it be great to have the same kind of enthusiasm about your job as you did on your first week of your job?  Sometimes the negative things we experience make us lose enthusiasm, or we just get in a routine and take our love for granted.  Today people take vacations in the summer and second honeymoons in order to get the spark back in the relationship with marriage or a family.  I believe it is important, to work at getting that spark back.  But that is true for our relationship with God as well.  The one thing that really stands out about this brief letter to the church of Ephesus is that it is a call to all of us to not let our flame of love for God die out.

            Ephesus was a great city in the ancient world, the largest city in Asia Minor (in today’s Turkey), with a population of 250,000.  It had one of the seven wonders of the world, the Temple to the goddess Diana (or Artemis)- the goddess of motherhood and light.

            Ephesus also had a long Christian tradition.  Paul had spent three years there in the 60’s.  He performed great miracles there, and many came and believed. The Christian faith spread rapidly there and there was a lot of great enthusiasm about the faith at first.  In fact, so that people burned their magic spells and idols in a big bonfire- these spells would have sold for over $4 million in today’s money.  The silversmiths feared their souvenir industry would be demised so they started a riot there (Acts 19).  Later, Timothy was probably the pastor of the church there.  There is strong tradition that says the John the Apostle came to Ephesus and possibly brought Mary the mother of Jesus there, and there they both died.  But despite all the miracles, the apostolic presence, and even the great enthusiasm of the people at first, the church began to take its faith for granted. 

            The church in Ephesus at the time of this writing did a lot of good things.  They persevered in the faith and worked hard. They valued truth over false teaching.  False teaching has been a constant danger in the church.  Sounds like they did a pretty good job, doesn’t it?  This church was right on the straight and narrow.  But something was wrong.

            “But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.”  (3:4).  God is saying, “You don’t bring me flowers any more.”  You’ve seen those who are first in love- going on dates, opening doors, going out to something special, then there is a taking for granted.  You’re just going through the motions, you’re working hard, but you do not seem to care.

            Why do people lose their love for God?  There’s the old shoe syndrome.  This is when people feel comfortable with their faith, and they don’t want to challenge their faith or rock the boat.   There’s the “Honey I’m too tired” syndrome.  Maybe they are tired of resisting evil and standing up for what is right.  There’s the “I’ve got a headache” syndrome.  Maybe they have suffered greatly in life—and while they still believe-and still want to be faithful- it is hard to get that enthusiasm back.  We really live

            Most think, however, think that this is the “Ephesus syndrome.”  That syndrome is not that the people were wicked, and not that they were lazy- they were hard working.  But they were so busy- like Martha in the Martha and Mary story.  They were so busy they didn’t even notice their love was gone.  Their love had settled into a contentment with doctrinal purity. 

            There are three steps listed in this passage to getting you love back: Remember, Repent, Repeat.

1) REMEMBER- This is reliving the thrill of romance.  This is going back and looking at the pictures of that first date—and having that love re-kindled.  Go back and remember your enthusiasm, and ask do I have it now?  I remember when Kay and I fell in love- when we first held hands, and when we had our first kiss.  Jeremiah 2:1,2 said, “I remember the devotion of your youth, how as a bride you loved me and followed me through the desert, through a land not sown.”  Remember the day you joined the church and thought- this is my home, and I’m going to come and grow.  Parents remember the day you baptized your children and made vows to raise them up in the Lord and how you were excited that God had given you this child- and how your faith, hope, and love shone?  Remember when something happened in your life- maybe you had a scare with heart trouble or cancer, and you asked God to spare you?  The new joke that has become old is about the guy who was flying on an airplane and the engine caught fire.  The guy became scared and said, “Lord, if you get me out of this, I’ll give you half of all I own.”  The plane miraculously landed.  A preacher had overheard his prayer, and said, “I hope you meant what you said.  I know of a little church that has some great needs.” The man said, “I made God a better deal.”  “What’s that?”  “I told him if I ever got on a plane like that again, he could have it all!”  Unfortunately a lot of us make promises to God in a fix, and then we forget with time.  John says, “Remember!”

2) REPENT- Turn around.  Find the true center.  Repent of the coldness of your hearts and lack of enthusiasm for the Lord. Repent of your lovelessness for God that shows in a lack of concern for others.  Once I was talking to a group of people who owned huge homes at the beach and a few plantation owners.  One man was a Princeton graduate and said he didn’t need God because he was perfectly happy in this life.  Maybe that is why Jesus said it is hard for the rich to enter into the kingdom of heaven.  Compared to ancient times- we all live like princes and princesses- with air conditioned cars, and nice houses, and not wanting for food or clothing.  The task for people in an age like ours is similar to the task of the Ephesians.  We need to be able to love God despite our riches.

3) REPEAT- do the things you did at first- THOSE ACTS OF LOVE- even if you don’t feel like it. Love will follow.  I believe if you treat someone like you’re in love with them, you are more likely to fall back in love than if you didn’t do those things.  Years ago I knew a man who came to me about divorcing his wife.  He said they never see each other anymore, and they yell at each other a lot, and so they stay apart- but they wanted to stay together.  Part of my advice was to try to treat each other as if they were really in love.  Open doors, flirt, give flowers, act like they were dating again.  A few months later he came to me and said, “It worked!”  Fifteen years later they are still together.

How does this apply to God?  There are people who say, “It is wrong to come to church if you don’t fully believe or don’t fully love God.”  Maybe none of us would be here if we have to have a certain standard of love. I say, it at least is an effort in the right direction.  You will not find me criticizing those who are trying in our day when so many have given up trying in the name of sincerity.  Come to church- make it a habit- not because you feel like it.  Don’t be a slave to your feelings!  Don’t let your emotions control whether you life will be good or bad!  Do the things you did at first- come, worship, study the Bible pray, tell your friends about your faith, look for opportunities to do something for someone in need- like the Good Works Blitz. 

            To not is to lose your light- your testimony.  I went to Europe a couple of years ago, and saw some magnificent churches.  But most churches are empty.  They may say they believe, but they are lacking in love.  One preacher describe the European church like empty shells- like beautiful caskets lines with gold and silk, but buried with complacency.  America is heading in the same direction. 

            Someone asked me what they thought the biggest sin of the church was today.  Was it homosexuality, or hypocrisy, or selfishness, or pride?  I said none of the above.  The biggest sin of the American church today is the biggest sin of the Ephesian church- it is apathy.  It is a loss of our first love.  I invite you to remember, repent, and repeat.  Communion is a way we rededicate ourselves to our God- we renew our love for Him.