Visionary View: Respond to Christ’s Call to love
Today, as God's church, we draw nearer each day to the return of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Some of you may search for signs of His imminent return and find many Biblical prophecies fulfilled already. Yet, remember Jesus' own words in Mark 13:32 and Luke 12:40 - "No one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows."
Luke 12:40, You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.
Though the precise timing of Christ's return remains unknown, we can have unwavering confidence in His promise to return.
Whether His return happens today, tomorrow, or in a future generation, it is clear that we are living in the last days before His glorious coming. In these crucial times, we are called to respond to Christ's resounding call to return to our first love.
Let us reflect on the words of the Apostle John in Revelation 2:1-7, where he writes to the church in Ephesus.
Write this letter to the angel of the church in Ephesus. This is the message from the one who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the one who walks among the seven gold lampstands:
2 “I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. I know you don’t tolerate evil people. You have examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but are not. You have discovered they are liars. 3 You have patiently suffered for me without quitting.
4 “But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first! 5 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. 6 But this is in your favour: You hate the evil deeds of the Nicolaitans, just as I do.
7 “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. To everyone who is victorious, I will give fruit from the tree of life in the paradise of God.
Just as the church at Ephesus had its opportunity to respond to the Lord's call, so do we.
Friends, we too are called to be a shining light for Christ and share the love of God with others. Today let us consider together the lessons we learn from the church at Ephesus and seek to renew our love for Christ.
For context, Ephesus was a city of great influence and pagan practices and housed a powerful gospel light that spread throughout Asia. The church at Ephesus had great opportunities to share the message of Jesus, and so do we.
Ephesus was located at the capital of the province of Asia, a city that was a commercial and religious centre.
Ephesus was called the “Light of Asia.” It was an ending point for a great Roman road system that constituted the westward trade route. It was famous for the temple of Diana, one of the seven wonders of the world. And it was the hotbed of every false religious cult and superstition.
Ephesus was a city filled with paganism, yet God planted a church there that became a powerful gospel light throughout Asia.
The church at Ephesus had a great Christian background, with the apostle Paul as its originator. During a two-year period, he evangelized the whole province from this church.
Timothy worked there, and the apostle John served as pastor before and after his exile to Patmos in his later years.
Some of the most important parts of the New Testament are associated with Ephesus — the gospel of John; 1, 2, and 3 John; Revelation; Paul’s epistle to the Ephesians; and Paul’s letters to Timothy.
The Lord Jesus Christ gives a strong call to this great church let’s look at the three aspects of His call:
I. The Lord of the Church
II. The Life of the Church
III. The Lessons from the Church
I. The Lord of the church.
In Revelation chapter 2, we encounter the triumphant Christ, the Lord of the church, who holds the messengers of the churches in His right hand. Notice where he is and what he is doing - He is present in the midst of His churches, guiding, loving, and ministering among them. As the same Christ who was victorious in Revelation chapter 1, He remains sovereign over His body, the church. We take comfort in the knowledge that we are securely held in His hands and that He walks alongside us.
In John 10:28–29 Jesus says, I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and He is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand.
And in Matthew 28:20 Jesus said, “be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Jesus is the master of His church, overseeing all aspects with divine authority and love.
He continues to reveal Himself to His church, reproving us, loving us, and ministering
among us.
II. The life of the church.
Christ intimately knows the life of His church, seeing us clearly and discerning our actions and hearts. The church at Ephesus received a commendation for its active and energetic works, labouring tirelessly for the gospel. They demonstrated remarkable patience in the face of trials and showed sensitivity to evil, refusing to let it take root. The Ephesian church also exhibited spiritual discernment, not being deceived by false teachings. They endured hardships in Christ's name, unwavering in their determination to fulfil God's purposes. Despite these commendable qualities, there was one crucial aspect missing—love. Love is the heartbeat of the church, the defining characteristic of Christ's followers. Without it, we are merely sounding brass and tinkling cymbals.
Allow me to share an illustration that highlights the significance of love in our lives: In a small town, there lived a faithful woman called Jane, who served in the local church diligently. She was actively involved in various ministries, leading Bible studies, and caring for the needy. However, over time, she found herself overwhelmed with tasks and duties, losing sight of her initial motivation—the love for Christ. One day, her pastor shared the story of the Grateful Heart, emphasizing the importance of love as the driving force for all service. Mary's heart was stirred, and she realized that she had lost her first love. With tears in her eyes, she repented and turned back to Christ, seeking to serve Him with renewed love and passion.
The church at Ephesus was commended for being active and energetic and commended for its work. The word used here for their work means toil and working at a cost. It is the type of toil required for a spiritual harvest – Consider John 4:38 when Jesus says, “I sent you to harvest where you didn’t plant; others had already done the work, and now you will get to gather the harvest.”
Many Christians today take the Great Commission of Matthew 28:18-20 lightly, but it requires effort, dedication and obedience - Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
The Ephesian church was commended for its patient endurance. Things were not easy for this church in this pagan city because they were confronted with all kinds of trials. Nevertheless, they were patient. They accepted their difficult situation triumphantly.
We need to remember that patience is developed through trials. Do you want patience? Do you pray for it? When you do, watch out! The Lord will test you by giving you difficult situations. This is how patience grows.
The Ephesian church was commended for its sensitivity to evil. They did not “tolerate evil people” The word “tolerate” suggests a refusal to let evil have control. This is God’s will for the church in all ages.
The church is commended for its spiritual discernment. John said, “You have examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but are not. You have discovered they are liars.”
1 John 4:1 says, “Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world.”
Jesus warned us in Matthew 7:15, “Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves.”
The Ephesian church was commended for its endurance and determination, they “patiently suffered for Jesus without quitting”
How do we endure?
By the motivation of the name of Jesus Christ. It is His saving, sufficient, victorious name that enables us to keep on serving him. They hadn’t fainted, they wouldn’t quit, and they pressed on to accomplish God’s goals in God’s time regardless of the opposition they faced.
The church at Ephesus had commendable qualities, but it still needed to be called back to Christ because one aspect of church life was missing, the most essential characteristic - love.
Something had happened in the life of the church that had left them cold, mechanical, and routine. They were not experiencing the love of God as they once had. They had left their first love. It can happen to any Christian, so the Lord of the church is calling us back to our first love.
III. Lessons from the church.
From the church at Ephesus, we learn valuable lessons. First, a church can lose its opportunity if it strays from its first love. Let us be vigilant and return to Christ before it is too late. Second, love is the essence of the church; it defines who we are and how we should interact with one another and the world. Without love, our efforts become meaningless. Third, love can be renewed in our hearts. We can remember how it used to be, repent, and return to Christ with fervour, allowing the Holy Spirit to fill us with His love.
In the parable of the Prodigal Son, we find a beautiful representation of love's renewal. The son lost in sin, squandered his inheritance and ended up in destitution. When he hit rock bottom, he remembered his father's love and decided to return home. His father, filled with compassion, embraced him, and their relationship was restored. Similarly, Christ lovingly waits for us to return to Him, and when we do, He welcomes us with open arms, ready to restore our first love.
In Conclusion,
Does Christ's call to return to your first love resound in your heart today.?
Take time to examine yourself, seek His forgiveness, and rekindle your love for Him.
As the church of Christ, let love be our defining characteristic, shining brightly as a powerful gospel light in this world, love for God, love for one another, and love for the lost.
“Lord, renew our first love in our hearts!”
Let us remember that love is the most excellent way, and without it, our works are in vain.
May the Holy Spirit empower us to live as a church renewed in love, shining brightly as a powerful gospel light in this world.
May we seize the opportunity to respond to the call of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, and demonstrate His love to a world in need. Let love be the driving force behind all that we do as His church.
Amen.
