Thou Hast Left thy First Love
"I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love"
(Revelation 2:4)
One of the saddest things that can happen to anyone is to lose our love. When
love is lost in a family, when the passion of love dies, the family begins to
disintegrate. When love "wax cold" in any relationship, iniquity abounds
(Matthew 24:12). When the Church stops loving Jesus it becomes an automation, a
machine that makes toast for her Husband but who does not care whether He eats
or not. A loveless Church hurts her Loving Bridegroom!
Several years ago a steam engine called "The Peavine" ran through our West
Tennessee community. The Peavine went as far as Parsons in one direction, and
beyond Lexington in the other. The Peavine bound communities together, allowing
all to share supplies and people with one another. The Peavine was a steam
engine. Though the engineer controlled the train, the fireman kept the steam
pressure going by constantly shoveling coal into the belly of the beast. The
coal burned hot, making steam that turned the wheels of this mighty engine. If
the engine lost it's fire, the engineer might as well go home. An engine without
steam was unable to do its job. It was no more than several thousand pounds of
useless steel and iron. Even so the Church at Ephesus.
The Ephesian Church followed all of the rituals of the faith. It's pastor
preached, it's members served, but Jesus said "I have somewhat against thee -
you have lost your first love". Jesus Christ loves us and gave Himself for
us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity. He wants us to be "zealous of
good works" (Titus 2:14) . But Jesus expects more than mere works from His
Bride! We must love Him, because He first loved us. Just as fire had to be in
the belly of the Peavine, Love must be in the belly of the Church. The Spirit of
God, like the fireman of old, continually reminds us what Jesus did on that old
rugged Cross. We were due to enter Hell, but Christ loved us enough to take our
punishment. We had no right to an inheritance, but by His we have been adopted
into the Family of God. He has gone to prepare a place for we who believe - what
did we do to earn or deserve this future glory?
Condemned by the Law, Jesus not only pardoned us, but He married us to Himself
(Romans 7:4). The ring He wore on our wedding day was that crown of thorns that
so pierced His brow! His "best man" was a tree, and the vows He gave three rusty
nails. Oh my Beloved, will you not love Him?
In the early Church Jesus Christ called many different types of people together
under His banner of love. Look at the original disciples. Some were tax
collectors, some ex-prostitutes, others repentant tavern owners, yet others were
fishermen. Jesus called people of different temperament to Himself. Some were
patient, others impatient. Some even tempered, others angry. Some were well
educated, others ignorant. Some were white collar workers, others blue collar.
As Jesus drew these people together He proved the supernatural state of His
Church by saying, "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye
have love one to another" (John 13:35). How will others - our co-workers,
our wives, our husbands, our children - know the Christian faith is true? Will
our faith be proved by the number of people who attend our local Church? No, for
great masses of people followed Jesus in the first part of His ministry. These
same masses cried out "crucify Him" while a murderer was released in His stead.
Will our faith be proved by the size of our building? Absolutely not! The early
Church had no building at all, and usually met on Solomon's Porch in the Jewish
Temple, or in caverns or private homes. Will our faith be proved by the amount
of money we give, or by the prosperity of our members? No, for riches often draw
people away from Christ (Matthew 19:24). Will our faith be proved by the easy
life, by our lack of suffering? No, for God calls us to suffer for His sake
(Matthew 5:11), calling us blessed when we are persecuted and hated. How then
shall our faith be proved?
Our faith is proved by the love we have for one another, by the unity we have in
worshiping our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The Ephesian Church had lost that
love, that passion for Christ - and this we must not do! We have often stood on
the seashore and watched waves roll in from the sea. The waves are temporary,
quickly dying - but the sea is eternal. If we are saved, we are saved by faith
in God. This is our Source of power, the love of God shed abroad in our hearts
by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us (Romans 5:5). Ephesus forgot where they
came from, forgot the Source of their life. Take care, Beloved, lest you forget
to Whom you are wed, and at what price you were purchased. May God touch your
hearts with these words.
"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ
liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of
the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate the
grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in
vain." (Galatians 2:20-21 KJV)
Pastor David Buffaloe
Rock Hill Baptist Church
605 Rock Hill Road
Lexington, TN 38351
phone 731-845-6104
online at www.bibleteacher.org