“Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to Me and do the works you did at first. If you don’t repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches” (Rev. 2:5, NLT – New Living Translation used for this article).

The city of Ephesus was an important seaport on the Aegean Sea. It was the location of the great temple of Artemis (or Diana). False religion ultimately breeds corruption and immorality, and this was very evident in Ephesus. The Apostle Paul spent a long time with the Ephesian Church in the forefront of the spiritual battle that was being waged there. It was a painful burden for Paul. His urgent reminder to the Ephesian elders was, “Watch out! Remember the three years I was with you – my constant watch and care over you night and day, and my many tears for you” (Acts 20:31). Paul’s specific concern was: “I know that false teachers, like vicious wolves, will come in among you after I leave, not sparing the flock. Even some men from your own group will rise up and distort the truth in order to draw a following” (Acts 20:29-30).

Not very long after Paul’s warning, the risen Lord Jesus Christ addressed letters to seven churches, including the church at Ephesus (Rev. 2). These letters, written by the Apostle John (Rev. 1:19) contained both commendations and warnings. The Ephesians were first on the list of churches. They were commended for their commitment to orthodoxy. However, they were warned about a departure from their first Love (Christ and His Church). The distortion of truth (Acts 20:30) that Paul foresaw in the Ephesians had a dampening effect on their love for Christ and His Church. As C. S. Lewis noted, “A man’s spiritual health is exactly proportional to his love for God.” 

The sin

Revelation 2:4 – “But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love Me or each other as you did at first”

The command to repent

Rev 2:5b – “Turn back to Me and do the works you did at first”.

The consequences of refusing to repent

Rev.2:5c – “If you don’t repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches.”

The example of the Ephesian Church is an urgent signal to all churches to pause regularly and humbly allow the Holy Spirit to shine His light into their midst to expose such pernicious sin. Failure to do so inevitably results in churches becoming cold and unfruitful. Removal of a church’s lampstand means it no longer has the ability or authority to shine God’s light into this dark world. Therefore, that church would be reduced to a group of people performing empty rituals for their own satisfaction.

How is it even possible that the Ephesian church could be careful in its orthodoxy but still be adrift from its first love for the Savior and brethren? It may be difficult to fathom this contradiction, but church history confirms that it is a reality. In fact, the sad development at the Church at Ephesus is typical of God’s people throughout the ages. God’s love for us is steadfast. It never fails. But we are prone to wander from our first Love. This is seen in our neglect of our first works after we are saved (Rev. 2:5b). Suddenly, grace doesn’t seem so amazing as it did at the beginning and our love for God grows cold. God’s lament to His old covenant people was: “O Israel and Judah, what should I do with you? …. For your love vanishes like the morning mist and disappears like dew in the sunlight” (Hos. 6:4).

How then should we live? First, we need to be alert to the slow, deceptive drift away from God. The devil is a roaring lion who is always seeking an opportunity to devour a church or individual Christian who is drifting with the tide. This usually happens when we neglect the various means of grace God has provided to help us walk worthy of our calling. Meditation on the Word of God is essential for good spiritual health. The Book of Psalms opens with a description of the blessed man. He delights in the law of the LORD and meditates on it day and night (Psa.1:2).

Second, look for early signs of this drift in our worship of God. For example, how do we participate in the Lord’s Table, or Communion? Do we remember the significance of this holy ordinance? What is the posture of our hearts when we come to His Table? Is it reduced to a mere ritual? Does the love of God in the crucified Christ grip our hearts? We are commanded by our Lord: “Do this in remembrance of Me” (Luk.22:19; 1 Cor. 11:24 & 25). This means of grace was provided for us to remember and return to our first Love as often as we keep this ordinance.

Third, watch out for the red flag of a declining love for our brothers and sisters in Christ. It is remarkable that Christ’s indictment of the Ephesians also included their reduced love for the brethren: “You don’t love Me or each other as you did at first” (Rev. 2:4). Love for Christ, who is the Head of the Church, must necessarily be coupled with love for the Church, which is His body (Eph. 5:23). The Apostle John demonstrated how love for the brethren is linked to our relationship with God: “No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and His love is brought to full expression in us” (1 John 4:12).

Leaving our first Love means some idol has taken His place. When this happens, we are breaking God’s first and greatest commandment: “You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind” (Matt. 22:37). The Ephesian Church started well. Reports of their conduct were comforting to the Apostle Paul while he was in prison: “Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for God’s people everywhere” (Eph. 1:15). May we learn from this lesson and resolve to be steadfast in our “first works” until He comes and find us doing so.