Your First Love: Hold On To It Series

Far, far too many people live under the notion a little religion is all you need. They think if they go to church on occasion, sprinkle a few acts of kindness on others, say a few good words here and there---it’ll be enough to get you into heaven. Because of that when they come to church go through the motions--- they say all the right words, they most likely mumble the words to the hymns but may even sing with gusto if they like singing, they routinely and rather thoughtlessly take communion and they endure the sermon but all the while their heart’s not really in it. Still they rationalize to themselves "what I’m doing is enough." But they are so wrong! It’s not enough! Those people who have held onto their religion but let go of their relationship with Jesus, need to re-engage their hearts and because a little religion won’t save anyone!---we will only be saved if we are in a right relationship with Jesus Christ! And a right relationship with Jesus, friends, is where we love Jesus more than anyone or anything else---where He’s our first love---where He’s number one in our hearts. That’s the thing Jesus was wanting from the Christians at Ephesus. And that’s what He’s wanting from us. Jesus made it clear to the Christians at Ephesus that they had forsaken this first love relationship and were on dangerous ground. And Jesus warning was a good thing for them because with it Jesus gave them the opportunity to correct the situation. But what about us? Are we as a church on dangerous ground? Are you or am I as an individual on dangerous ground? Can we even know? Jesus’ admonition, "Remember the height from which you have fallen" clearly indicates we can.

[SLIDE WITH 2ND SERMON POINT]

2. There Are Ways To Tell If Your Love For God Is On Dangerous Ground

Before we dig deeper into the text though I want to tell you about some dangerous ground I found myself on this past week. We all are well aware of the difference a week can make. Last Sunday we had a couple of feet of snow on the ground. Today about the only snow lingering around are the parking lot piles. Well I can tell you that one day this past week I nearly took a spill down the back steps of my house because a think barely visible layer of ice had formed on the top step. I was fortunate I had just taken hold of the railing or I would have went down. I did what so many of us do when we have a near fall---I did this awkward little off balance dance, caught myself, regained my composure, looked around to see if anyone else saw me and breathed this little sigh of relief when I realized no one had. I’m usually pretty cautious, but after that near accident I was even more so. I know that you can feel the slipperiness of ice with your feet even if you can’t see it with your eyes so when I’d walk out of the house, before I started for the stairs I slide my foot across the top step to see if there was ice or not. Now folks just as there are more ways than one to know if you’re on dangerous icy ground, there are more ways than one to know if you’re on dangerous spiritual ground.