Did you know that, in the US, Canada and some other nations, national First Love Day was just yesterday (September 18)? It is the day to celebrate the one who caused that first release of the love drug (said in Barry White deep voice) … oxytocin.
First love … just saying those two words may bring a face or name to mind immediately. The memories of the lovely, silly, warm feelings one felt, perhaps many, many years ago. The thought of a first love may also make one thankful that that person has stayed in the past.
In Revelation 2:4, the apostle John scolds the church in Ephesus:
“But I have this against you: You have abandoned your first love.”
He is telling that church (and maybe even tells the christian church today … and we individuals within it) that they/we have forgotten the love, the passion that was felt when we first came to know of who Jesus is and how much we are loved.
And why is this such a big deal? I love one of the points made in the Matthew Henry Commentary,
“These lively affections will abate and cool if great care be not taken, and diligence used, to preserve them in constant exercise.”
Isn’t that like all forms of love? If we do not dote on the one to whom we say we love … if we do not study and listen closely to what they say, if we do not take (make) time to be with this love … well, do we really love them? And, if we were to jump into the ‘others’ shoes, would we feel loved, would we know we are loved if the other does is not attentive, is not making efforts to show love towards us?
John then continues on with a stern (and serious) warning,
“Therefore, keep in mind how far you have fallen. Repent and perform the deeds you did at first. But if you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.” (v. 5)
Repent … just own how we have failed to love our God.
Perform the deeds we did at first … let the passion of the beginnings of love for God return.
BUT …
If we don’t do these things, something unbelievable, of upmost seriousness, is our consequence (as the church and as we who claim the name of Christ …
“I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place”
For the lampstand to be removed is to have the Light of Christ removed. This is so very serious.
Oh, how we need to call back our first love joy. How we need to return to that passion we once had for this one who brings light to our life.
itsawonderfilledlife 