Revelation 2:1-7

In Chp. 2, John is instructed to write to the angel of the church of Ephesus. God is somewhat pleased with this church.  He knows their deeds, their toils, and their perseverance, and that they do not grow weary. He knows they do not tolerate evil men and have no problem putting them to the test.  However, He does have something against them:  they have left their first love.  They have lost the desire to help people. They have abandoned the desire, energy, and devotion that are comparable to first love.  Basically, they were only meeting expectations when at one time they exceeded them.

            God warned them to remember the eagerness they once had and repent, or He would quickly remove their candlestick out of its place. Remember that the candlestick (lampstand) is the church itself, so God was warning them that their church would be removed from its place if they didn’t get it together.  He does, however, give them credit for hating the deeds of the Nicolaitans (followers of Nicolas – leader of a religious sect that was more about free love and a clerical hierarchy than about following God’s word).

            Though God warns them, He also leaves them with a word of hope.  He promises that whosoever hears and overcomes, He will allow to eat of the tree of life in the Paradise of God.  Remember, the tree of life was in the Garden of Eden.  As long as Adam and Eve remained there they would live forever, but they were banished from Eden and banished from eating of the tree of life. That’s the day their clock started ticking.  That’s the day they chose death.

            Is today’s church comparable to the church of Ephesus? Have we lost the original passion we once had?  Are we just going through the motions?  If so, we have been warned.