Years ago, my sons and I took our trip of a lifetime vacation in the form of a Mediterranean cruise that sailed out of the port town of Civitavecchia just outside Rome. The entire journey was a whirlwind of strange airports, conversations I could not understand, vistas I had only seen in magazines, and menus where we guessed what we were ordering. Though the tours were not overtly spiritual offerings, I could not pass up the opportunity to see the ruins of the city of Ephesus in Turkey.
After all, it was in Ephesus that Paul taught for a space of about three years with such an effective outreach that the local idol makers stirred up a mob because they were losing so much business. In his letter to the Ephesian church, Paul spoke eloquently about the mystery of Christ and His church, as well as gave instructions on living a life that glorifies God. When Jesus told the apostle John on the Isle of Patmos to send letters to the seven churches in Asia (modern Turkey), Ephesus was the first congregation He mentioned.
This little Bible-packing momma could not wait to get into the crowded tour bus that ferried the mostly American cruise ship passengers from the dock to the archaeological digs at Ephesus. We walked on ancient cobblestone streets past fields where workers were still trying to piece the puzzle of the abandoned city together using the broken columns and stones that had been unearthed. We gawked at the amphitheater where that Ephesian riot Paul had precipitated happened. We saw ornate carved building facades and humble stone residences that had lain long empty.
We followed our guide on the winding path until he stopped in front of a temple dedicated to a Roman Emperor named Domatian. Though it lay in broken ruins, it was easy to see how impressive the structure had been when constructed sometime in the first century AD. Domitian had been a popular but ruthless military leader who declared himself to be lord and god. Though the story of the emperor who demanded worship was interesting, what arrested my attention was the carved letters on the city block wall just across from the temple. Our muslim guide pointed out the rough carving with a smile and told us it was ancient graffiti. Roughly it translated to this: “There is one God and His name is Jesus.”
I cannot tell you how those carved letters have challenged my complacency and arrested any spiritual arrogance I was harboring. “There is one God, Jesus”. Can you imagine that Christian man standing alone on the dark street long ago? He stood with his heart burning and a tool in his hand, dodging the Roman soldiers as they made their rounds through the city. He risked his life to rebut the Roman hubris that would build a temple for the worship of a political leader. He didn’t sign his carved note, but I cannot help but recognize the passion of this fellow believer.
“There is one God, Jesus.” How brave was this man? He published his message for travellers to witness for centuries, far longer than the pagan temple stood. He declared Jesus was God in the face of the military force that was both ruthless and skilled at torturing political enemies. I want to applaud this faceless first century Christian. I want to stand and cheer such unyielding faith!
However, I have read Revelations 2:1-7 and placing that man’s handwriting next to Jesus’ message to the church of Ephesus shakes me to the core. Jesus tells the church that He has seen the works they are doing in His name and how they are laboring for Him, how they are sticklers for right doctrine and eschewing wickedness. Yet he has one thing against the church of Ephesus. The man with a burning heart chiseling out his declaration of faith on Ephesian stones is part of the church that the Lord says had left its first love!
Is this what the Ephesians’ love looked like when it had cooled and been placed on the back burner of the church program and organizational plan? What then did the fiery zeal look like when they started the Christian walk? More relevant to me, what does my love look like to God when I am drawn to a recliner instead of a prayer closet? What does He think when I am tired and stay home instead of pressing in to worship on a Wednesday night?
I have thought about first love for some time now. When love for the Lord was first sparked in my heart, it was born in deep gratitude as I felt the cleansing power of my salvation. It was white hot passion about the Savior Who had died for me, but it was very immature. I really didn’t understand what being a Christian meant. Answered prayers and poured out blessings seemed like an easy path, a no-brainer kind of decision to make. It took time and experience for me to realize that Jesus was a good choice even when the answer to my prayers was no and when my path led through dark places. My first love might have been immature, but the Lord knew it was real. That is the place He wants to find my heart. First love is what He calls the highest place in our relationship with Him.
The phrase translated first love is the Greek protos agape. Protos means first (or chief or preeminent) in time, place, or order while agape means love and affection turned toward another. The first love that had been abandoned by the Ephesians was not simply the initial spark of relationship with Jesus. They had stopped making Jesus and love for Him their reason. Works and church business had superseded that intimate relationship with the Lord in Ephesus.
The problem faced by Ephesus is not foriegn to the church today. Don’t get me wrong, I love the church. It is the beautiful Body of Christ and God’s plan for this age of humanity. However, we can plan and program Jesus right out of the building. Anytime Jesus is not our reason for outreach or building plans, we have left first love. Anytime we can choose to cut worship short or water down our message to be consumer-friendly, we have left first love.
I can even do it in my own personal life. When comfort or convenience drives me rather than heeding the call of the Lord to a prayer closet, I have left my first love. Holding what is mine rather than giving generously to support the work of the gospel means I have left my first love. If me and mine are more important that Him and His, my love has cooled and fallen from its lofty place.
I believe we are living in what the Bible calls the Last Days, a time when deception is abundant. The church around the world has faced great persecution, but in our country the church’s greatest threat is becoming so culturally acceptable that there is nothing found in us to be an offense to the world. To follow Jesus fully and live with that fiery love that stands in opposition to the political correctness like our first century friend in Ephesus, we must choose to return to our first love. Jesus, first and foremost, must be our reason.
The good news is that Jesus knew what He was getting when He called us to Himself. He knew we would blow it at times. He was never surprised when we choose the wrong road. The way back is marked out by the Lord in scripture and power enabled by Holy Spirit. Revelation 2:5 is a roadmap to return to first love’s fire. “Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works…” Remember. Repent. Redo.
Remember. Remember Who He is and what He has done for us. Jesus was not a weak man who was victimized by Roman soldiers on a cross. He is God. He could have called angel armies to shut down that torture show at any time. Instead, He chose to embrace the pain and suffering of crucifixion in order to pay the price for our sins. It was His strength that kept Him suspended between heaven and earth on a cross beam that day. He did that for us, so we could have a new life in the kingdom of God. I don’t know about you, but my sins were heavy chains from which I could not rid myself. Jesus set me free. Remember what the Lord has done for you. Remember the zeal that burned in your bones. Remember the intimate places of prayer and worship.
Repent. Repent that anything became more important than Jesus. It is so easy to become distracted and unfocused in our daily lives. Work schedules and life’s busyness can slide into the place that belongs to Jesus. Distraction blows its cool breath on that fiery passion we once felt for Him. Repentance begins by recognizing the problem and choosing to do something different to change it. Repent and do something about it. Delete the app off your phone that steals your attention. Refuse to engage in the office gossip. The Lord will put His finger on what you need to change.
Redo. Do the first works again. Get back into the baptismal waters if you feel Him lead you to it. The waters that covered you as you made your commitment will also seal your recommitment. Bend yourself again to prayer. Get alone with God, put on some music, and tell the Lord how lovely He is. Pull your bible out and turn your television off. Choose to make Him first place again. When you do these things, I can tell you from experience that God will reignite the passion that you feel you have lost.
Personally, I have had to heed the invitation to come back to the flames of first love enough times that I welcome the conviction that draws me there. I want to be bold enough to write on some walls when it seems the culture around me has forgotten God. After all, there is only one God. His name is Jesus.
Will you pray with me?
Father, we want to return to our first love and give Jesus the preeminence in our lives. Forgive us our busy distraction. We repent of allowing anything else to take Jesus’ place. We remember Who You are and what You have done. We run to You again. Let Your fire burn in our hearts again.
