REVELATION 2:5-6
GO BACK
Read Revelation 2:5-6.
In our passage today, Jesus’ message is very simple: go back to doing what you used to or else I’ll remove your usefulness. Wow, pretty rough message, huh? I suppose that’s what happens when a group gets sidetracked. Fortunately, they have their own history and experience to go back to. Looking at the early church at Ephesus in the book of Acts, they were a church that cared deeply for Paul as we see the elders of the church in tears over Paul’s departure. If their affection for Paul was any indication of the love that flowed through the church in her early years, they were certainly a church that cared deeply for others. Apparently that characteristic was no longer prominent by the time John’s revelation was given.
Going back to the things we did at the beginning… do you remember what your life in Christ was like in your early years? I realize many had their first years in Christ as a child, but think back to a time when you had a certain seriousness about your faith as an adult. How does your faith differ now? Hopefully it is more mature in all aspects. But consider if your faith has drifted from its original course. Were the things of greatest importance then still important today?
One thing that is true of me is that today my life is filled with more responsibilities than in my early years as a Christian. One would think that with less time now I would focus on the things that were of utmost importance and eliminate the less important things. In reality, life seems to take on its own direction (usually random), and before long the week is over without having given thought to the things that might have mattered more had I given it more thought. Take some time to consider if the things that were important then (and by that I mean of kingdom significance) are still important today. Consider if your life is gotten out of balance and if so, go back to the things you did at the beginning.
May 8th, 2009 at 10:55 pm
I think it’s important to keep in mind that the main idea of these verses is repentance. The going back to the beginning would be the sign of their repentance as that is when they had been doing things right. How God calls each us in our repentance may be different. I like to view my past as a testimony of what God has done in my life, and it serves as a reminder and an encouragement to continue striving forward. In repentance we stop, turn around and head back towards God, it may mean going back to the things in the beginning or it may mean doing something new. Repent of the things done wrong. Remember the things done right. Repeat those things. But it never ends with the past, we must continually run the race of life and strive to grow in our love for Christ.
Blessings.
May 9th, 2009 at 7:08 am
I might only add that for the Ephesians, theirs was a repentance from omission – that is, it was what they weren’t doing that was the problem. For some people (as in applying the Ephesian situation to ours), going back to the things of the beginning is needed. I am reminded of the Galatians who started so well, but quickly veered off course. Many of us are like the Ephesians and Galatians that way. We start well, get off course, and so need to repent toward the things that are pleasing to God.