Revelation 2:4; Left Thy First Love

Revelation 2:4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

Remember the story of the lost coin that our Lord Jesus gave in Luke 15. The coin in the house but lost in the house of God. There yet not there! Unlike the lost sheep where the shepherd has to go out of the way to the wilderness to bring the sheep back. This lost coin was there in the House of God, yet lost.

Luke 15:8 Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? 9And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and herneighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. 10Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

Our Lord is saying the members of the church at Ephesus – you may have been Christians for a long time, you have experienced what is called revived! Where has that fire gone?

The root failure is their departure from Christ, their devotion to the Lord. The word “somewhat” is put there in our King James translation, rightly so to tell us that the decay of love makes all other spiritual graces wanting.

1 Corinthians 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

The first generation of Christians, for the most part, is gone. They still had a strong tradition but not intense love. Let that first love be rekindled in the hearts of God’s people. Amen.