Have You Lost Your First Love?

Some years ago, I had the privilege of visiting Turkey. A Turkish man and one of his family members were going to do a business trip to Turkey so they invited me to go with them. I gladly accepted the invitation with one request that I would be allowed to spend a day in Ephesus. We were staying in Smyrna, the present-day port city of Izmir.

One clouded, cold rainy morning I took a Taxi to Ephesus. Ephesus was prominent in the Greco-Roman world because of its prime port location and its famous Temple of Artemis famous for its temple to the goddess Artemis (Diana of Ephesus), which was designated one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Now only a single column remains from the Temple of Artemis. The city is mentioned several times in the New Testament. The Apostle Paul wrote the Book of Ephesians to Christians here. According to the Book of Acts, Paul lived and worked in Ephesus for nearly three years and also visited the city during his missionary journeys. The Apostle John also lived in the city

I spent my full day touring in and around the ancient city of Ephesus. The city is totally in ruins. The ruins give a vivid sense of what the city looked like during New Testament times, from colonnaded streets, marketplaces, and temples to bathhouses and even public toilets. One of Ephesus’ best-known sites is the Library of Celsus, which once contained around 12,000 scrolls.

Every site is well-marked and documented so you can read about what once existed where there are now only stone pillars and boulders. I spent considerable time in the 24,000-seater outdoor theatre with incredibly good acoustics. No need for an expensive sound system. There is a platform where tourists stand and talk to each other or others read from the scriptures and you can hear their conversations clearly from every row and seat in the theatre.

I went and sat on a rock where the school of Tyrannus was. A lecture hall owned by Tyrannus. This is where Paul reasoned daily for two years with the believers. Paul would rent the hall every afternoon and teach from there. The Western Text of the Greek New Testament indicates that Paul had use of the lecture hall from 11 am to 4 pm the time when most Ephesians were resting. From here Paul trained most of his missionaries because in the two years he lectured here all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of Jesus Christ. I believe many churches were planted from this venue.

Acts 19: 8 And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God. 9 But when some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. 10 And this continued for two years so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews, and Greeks.

All seven Churches mentioned in Revelation are in Turkey. The letter that was written to the church in Ephesus particularly interested me. The day I sat in that once great city at the school of Tyrannus I asked the question. “What was the meaning of, you have left your first love”?

Revelation 2 “To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: 2 “I know your works, your labour, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; 3 and you have persevered and have patience, and have laboured for My name’s sake and have not become weary. 4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent. 6 But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.”’

Firstly, the seven golden lampstands are the seven churches to which the letters in Revelation are written.

To Ephesus, he writes, “I know your works, your labour, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them, liars; But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate”.