Lake Eufaula Christian Church
The Bible’s entire book of Revelation recounts instruction and enlightenment given the disciple John in a vision of Jesus. Most Christians know Revelation covers the end time prophecies, the anti-Christ, and the return of King Jesus to destroy evil on earth. However, the specific instructions Jesus gave for early Christians are often overlooked, although what HE said to the seven Asia Minor churches is relevant for us today.
Before He begins the lesson for John to pass on to the church in Ephesus, He says, “I am the Alpha and the Omega… who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:8). That statement means that Jesus was there in the beginning with God the Father and the Holy Spirit during creation, He currently reigns, and He will be victorious in the end. If Jesus is Alpha and Omega, the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, HE is everything. He is the almighty!
Hearing His voice, John turned and saw the Son of Man looking like he’d never seen Him before.
Jesus’s hair was snowy white, his feet were glowing bronze, and his eyes blazed with fire as He stood in the midst of lamp stands. “In His right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of His mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.” (Revelation 1:16) Jesus explains in Revelation 1:20, “The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lamp stands are the seven churches.”
The task he assigns John is for him to write what He says and send it to the seven churches of Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.” John’s letter is to commend them for what they are doing well, correct them with what they need to change, counsel them by telling them how they need to change, and point out the resulting consequence. They will either be rewarded for changing or punished for staying the same.
“I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance… You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name and have not grown weary.” (Revelation 2: 2-3). What then, had these early Christians done wrong?
Jesus tells the Christians in Ephesus what he holds against them, actually using those words. “Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first.”
He wants them to return to their first love. How about today’s Christians? Do we still have the same enthusiasm, fervor, and zeal that we had when we emerged from the baptismal waters determined to love and obey Jesus for all our lives? Maybe we need to do what Jesus urges: return to our first love!
“Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.” (Revelation 1:5). What good advice that is for all of us! We’d be wise to heed it because, “Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.”
When you first fall in love with who Jesus is, you just want to spend time with Him, worship Him, read His word, talk about Him—witness! At LECC we strive study the word at 10 a.m. Sunday school, 11 a.m. worship, and enjoy Wednesday night allage classes and activities at 6:30 p.m. We’d be pleased for you to join us as we ignite the fires of our first love of Jesus each week.
