“Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from it’s place.”

The writer of the book of Revelation identifies himself as “John.” He is John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, the writer of the gospel and the three epistles. After serving the church in Ephesus, he died in exile on the Isle of Patmos. While living in exile there, John was commanded by the glorious risen Jesus to write letters to the 7 churches of Asia Minor. He introduces this book as "the revelation of Jesus Christ...to his servant John." This revelation is about Jesus Christ and it is from Jesus Christ. Jesus is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. He sends this letter because he loves us. The time of his second coming is near. John wrote down what he saw and heard. Blessed are those who hear it, those who read it and who take to heart what is written.

Glorious Jesus, the sovereign Lord of history

John’s vision of Jesus is glorious. He is very different from the tiny, helpless baby or the humble suffering servant of the gospels. Jesus, the son of man is standing among seven candlesticks, which represent his Church. He is dressed in a long robe with a golden sash–like a high priest. His hair is white like wool or snow (like the Ancient of Days of Daniel 7); ..his voice is like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he holds seven stars, representing the angels of the 7 churches. Angels are God’s messengers. Out of his mouth comes a double-edged sword–the sword of the Spirit, the word of God. His face is shining like the sun. Seven is the perfect number, representing wholeness, so these seven churches represent the whole Church of God. Jesus gave this revelation from God to John for all believers, including you and me. God is sovereign. He is the Lord of history. He is the Lord of his Church.

Letters to the churches

Jesus sends these letters to encourage believers to persevere in their faith and grow in their love. Each letter is addressed to the angel of a certain church, and identifies Jesus, the writer of the letter, with a different aspect of his character, something fitting for the needs of that church. Some of the churches were enduring fiery persecution; others felt great pressure to compromise with the pagan society in which they lived; some had internal problems as believers struggled with each other. The letter to each church encourages that church to have overcoming faith, and promises spiritual blessing to those who overcome. The seven churches of Asia Minor were real churches, encountering real problems. But they also represent the whole church and the trials and temptations faced by Christians of any age. So these are letters to us. The seven churches are: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. They are all located in present day Turkey. These letters show that Jesus knows these churches intimately. Jesus loves them. He understands their struggles; he knows their failures; he also knows their victories. He challenges each one to overcome. John speaks about their suffering, warns about the ongoing work of the devil, encourages patient endurance and proclaims the victory of the Sovereign God over the powers of evil. Today we want to listen to his words to the churches of Ephesus, Smyrna, and Pergamum. Especially, we want to think about his message to the church in Ephesus, “repent and restore your first love.”

First, to the Church in Ephesus. (2:1-7)-- Repent and restore your first love.

Ephesus was the center and home base of the Church in Asia Minor. It was pioneered by Paul and by his coworkers, Priscilla and Aquila. (Acts 18, 19, 20) Paul had begun his ministry by teaching in the Bible to several disciples in the synagogue. When the Jewish leaders in the synagogue rejected Jesus, Paul took the disciples and moved to the lecture hall of Tyrannus. During the three years Paul spent in Ephesus, the churches of Asia Minor were pioneered. They were pioneered from Ephesus. The temple of Artemis was in Ephesus, and the priestesses of Artemis were prostitutes. Christians loved God and fought idolatry and immorality with prayer and bold actions. The gospel took root and the Holy Spirit worked. The devil worked, too. Paul almost lost his life in a riot instigated by Demetrius the silversmith who made and sold little idols of Artemis. But the name of Jesus was held in high honor. A great work of repentance erupted, and many people came forward and confessed their evil deeds. They burned about $500,000 worth of books that taught sorcery and magic arts. In Ephesus, Paul saw a great work of God and he formulated a mission strategy. He decided to go to Jerusalem with an offering from the Gentile churches, and then go to Rome, to plant missionary vision in the heart of the Gentile world. (Ac 19:17-21).

Jesus’ commendation. Jesus who walked among the seven golden lampstands and holds seven stars in his right hand commended the church in Ephesus because of their hard work and perseverance and because they did not tolerate wicked men. He was pleased with their spiritual discernment. They tested those who claimed to be apostles and found that they were false. In spite of having to swim upstream against a godless, immoral society, the believers in Ephesus persevered. They endured hardships for the sake of Jesus and they did not grow weary of fighting the battle of faith.

One thing lacking: you have forsaken your first love. It seems as though they were lacking in nothing, but in Jesus’ eyes they had a serious problem. It was a problem that was so serious that it could result in disqualifying them as a part of the Church. Jesus said, “Unless you repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from it’s place.” They had lost their love for God and for one another. Jesus’ word to them is “You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.”

What is our first love? “We love God because he first loved us. When I look at Jesus hanging on the cross in my place, for my sins, I cannot doubt or deny God’s love for me. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins...”(1Jn 4:10,11) In Rev 1:5-6 Jesus is described as the one who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father.” Dear friends, John writes, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. Jesus told us that the greatest commandment is to love God. He was quoting Dt 6:5: “Hear O Israel! The Lord our God, the Lord is One. Love the Lord your God with all you heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” We show our love for God by obeying his commands. Jesus gave us a new commandment: “Love one another.” If we love God we must love one another. John writes in 1Jn4, “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God because God is love. (7-9)

Why did they forsake their first love?

The church in Ephesus worked hard and persevered in the midst of many trials and problems. This is good, but sometimes we are overwhelmed. Maybe they became too busy doing God’s work and their own work. If I don’t take time to read the Bible and pray every day, my love relationship with Jesus becomes weak. They are praised for not tolerating wicked men, but as an unwanted by-product, perhaps they became self-righteous. We fight sin in ourselves and in our children and sometimes become legalistic. They hated the politically-minded Nicolaitans. Jesus praises them for this. But when hatred comes in, sometimes love goes out. When one zealously defends the truth, it’s easy to forget about love. Sometimes we disagree about small things (or big things) with our coworkers; the trust relationship is broken; love grows cold. Broken relations among coworkers can lead to a broken love relationship with God. Sometimes sheep whom we loved and served with our time and money and heart leave without saying good-bye. It makes our hearts grow cold, but we persevere by our human effort. When hardships and suffering come, it’s hard to persevere–and we forget to love. Sometimes pride creeps in and love goes out. When one hates evil, love can grow cold. Jesus said, “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.” (Mt 24:12) Sometimes because of sin, love is forsaken. “Love is patient.” We become impatient. “Love is kind.” We say unkind things. Love does not envy.” But we become envious of another’s job or clothes or children, etc. “Love does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking.” But we do all of these. “Love is not easily angered,” But I get mad. Love keeps no record of wrongs.” But some hurts are hard to forget.” Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” Trust relationship with fellow Christians must not be broken. When it is, love can’t live there.

Jesus says: “Yet I have this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.” (4,5) This is a surprisingly strong warning. It is clear that it is not acceptable to God for his people to live loveless lives. Paul wrote, “If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. ... If I have a faith the can move mountains but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.” (1Co 13:1-3) Jesus rebukes his church when love grows cold.

How can we restore our first love?

Jesus said, “Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.” When we remember our first love, we first think of how Jesus loved us.

“He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him; by his wounds we are healed.” (Isa 53) To restore our first love for Jesus we must remember who we were before we met Jesus and remember what he has done for us. Paul never forgot that he was a sinner who had persecuted God’s people. (1Ti 1:15-16) remembered that he was the chief of sinners. He confessed, “I am what I am by God’s grace, and his grace was not without effect.” When I remember God’s grace, love is kindled in my heart.

Before I met Jesus I was a rebellious sinner. I was proud of being rebellious. I named my horse “Rebel.” I deliberately made my teachers and parents and fellow students angry with practical jokes. My life had no meaning or purpose. I did not know for sure that God existed. I had no real friends. I was lonely and miserable and my life had no meaning. Jesus met me when I was a college student. He forgave my sins. I was an unlovable person, but he loved me and gave me his work to do. By his grace alone I am who I am. His grace to me is sufficient. When I met Jesus in college through studying Romans, I leaned what love is. I learned the meaning of the children’s song, “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so.” I wanted to share Jesus with those around me, I volunteered to teach Sunday School. I quit studying on Sunday and my grades improved. My heart was full of joy and I found peace for the first time. The Korean war was going on. I saw that war is not the way to peace, so I promised Jesus that I would be a missionary if he wanted me to. Jesus showed me his love and grace throughout college and he led me to Korea. He opened my eyes to see the truth and beauty and life in the word of God.

To restore our first love, we must repent. King David’s love relationship with God was broken when he committed adultery with Bathsheba and had her husband killed in battle. He repented and asked God to forgive his sin. “Against you and you only have I sinned and done what is evil in you sight…Surely you desire truth in the inner parts…Cleanse me with Hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me and I will be whiter than snow…restore to me the joy of your salvation.” (Ps 51) He later wrote, “Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.” (Ps32). To repent means to confess honestly to God who seeks truth in the inner parts. It means to turn from sin and self and the world and turn to God.

My love relationship with God was broken, not by a big sin, but by just becoming too busy to spend time with God. I neglected spending time in his word. So I became critical and negative and unhappy. I found that I must read the Bible every day. I must worship God. I must obey him. I must learn to see God’s hand in my life and in the lives of those for whom I pray. And I must be thankful in all circumstances. We need God’s help to live a life of love. If difficulties come to us–and they come to all of us–we must see them as opportunities to glorify God. We must repent of our complaining hearts. We should not blame others for our failures and defeats. We must not allow a victim’s mentality to keep us from coming to God. This is the time to remember Jesus’ love and his suffering for us on the cross and endure. When we can rejoice in suffering we can grow in perseverance, character and hope. Hope does not disappoint us because God pours his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit. (Ro 5:3-5)

Several days ago I read the life testimony of Shepherdess Jae Eun Cho. It was her 60th birthday testimony. Her key verse is “You will be a blessing.” She suffered from attacks of epilepsy when she was in high school, but when she and her mother prayed, God healed her. She married by faith in UBF and served God as a campus shepherd in Kwan Ak 3. There were many ups and downs in the ministry, and in her life, but she held on to God’s word and he made her a blessing. Her husband, David Cho, went to heaven at a young age, leaving her with 4 children. She committed her children to God, held on to God’s word and continued to serve campus mission. And God continued to make her a blessing. I realized that she is a woman who loves God and who has not forsaken her first love. So God loves her and has made her a source of blessing. She is full of thanksgiving. Just before Dr Lee went to America, he told her “Even if UBF should disappear, you must hold on to your love for God and be faithful to Jesus.”

Living in on a mission field, in a different culture, struggling with a different language and different customs, concern about self-support, children’s education, future security –these things rob us of joy, but because we love Jesus we persevere. The church in Ephesus also persevered. We should not give up, but do the things we did at first. Remember how joyful we were when we first met Jesus. We were full of thanksgiving and love for Jesus. We trusted him absolutely. And we loved and trusted each other without criticism. We can come to Jesus again with all our problems. We can still trust him. Jesus gives us a promise here. If we listen to his voice and restore our first love, Jesus promises that he will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God. Jesus says, “To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.” This is the wonderful goal of our earthly pilgrimage. It is a challenge to live the life of love by faith from first to last.

Second, to the Church in Smyrna. Look at verse 8. “To the angel of the church in Smyrna write. ‘These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again.’” The New Testament doesn’t give much information about the church in Smyrna. There were some Jews in Smyrna who slandered Christians. Jesus said, “They say they are Jews, but they are not.” Jesus called them “the synagogue of Satan.” People who believe in God do not slander God’s people. In writing to this church, Jesus emphasizes his resurrection. Jesus is the victor. Jesus is the First and Last, the one who died and came to life again. In 155AD, Polycarp was martyred in Smyrna. He refused to worship the Roman Emperor. The executioner offered to release him if he would bow to the Emperor and deny Christ. He said, “For 86 years I served Christ as my King. Christ never disowned me once. How can I disown him now?” We need to know that Jesus has conquered sin and death. The Risen Jesus does not rebuke the church in Smyrna. He plants resurrection faith in their hearts. It is a church that had suffered and would suffer again. They are materially very poor. But they are rich in faith. The Risen Jesus gives a promise: “Be faithful to death and I will give you the crown of life.” This is a promise to us. Our missionaries sometimes are discouraged by those who slander. Sometimes they face sickness and even death—like John Lee in Paraguay or Sarah Yoo in Iowa. They face uncertainty about the future like missionaries in Russia or Africa. But if we know that Jesus is alive and we spend time with him in his word and in prayer, we trust God and we trust Jesus. He does not forsake us. We will not forsake our first love. The Risen Jesus makes a promise. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.

Third, to the Church in Pergamum (12-17) Look at verse 13. “I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives.” If Satan’s synagogue was in Smyrna, Satan’s throne was in Pergamum. Pergamum was the seat of Emperor worship. There was a temple to Trajan, Emperor of Rome. “Satan’s throne” was a large altar dedicated to the Zeus. The first Christian martyr in Asia Minor was Antipas of Pergamum. He is called “my faithful witness.” He was roasted to death in a bronze pot shaped like a bull when he refused to deny Jesus. Because of his faithfulness, the Christians in Pergamum remained true to Jesus’ name.

But Jesus who speaks to Pergamum has a double-edged sword in his mouth. Jesus warns the church in Pergamum about those who hold to the teaching of Balaam. Balaam was a false prophet hired by the Moabites to curse Israel. He failed to do this, but by his influence, he led the Israelites into immorality and idolatry (Nu 24-25; 31). They were punished by God with a terrible plague. In Pergamum, some Christians decided that freedom and grace allowed them to compromise with idolatry and immorality. They were open to such ideas as: “It’s okay to eat beefsteak that has been offered to idols, because an idol is nothing.” “It’s okay to indulge in free sex, or even homo sex, if it’s done for love.” They were not listening to the truth of God’s word.

Some of the people of Pergamum embraced the practice of the Nicolaitans. To the credit of the Ephesians, they hated the practice of the Nicolaitans. Jesus also hates the practice of the Nicolaitans. No one really knows what the practices of the Nicoliatans are. Some scholars say the word suggests a political power struggle in the church, in which some are trying to rule over others. Jesus taught his disciples servant leadership. When politics get into the church, Jesus is not happy.

Jesus has the double-edged sword in his mouth. It is the sword of the Spirit, the word of God. It is the word of truth. Jesus promises to come with his sword and fight for the truth. The double-edged sword uncovers and lays bare everything. (Heb 4:12-13) Jesus promises to him who overcomes some of the hidden manna–spiritual food (hidden in the Most Holy Place) that sustains us and reminds us of his love and provision. He also promised to give us the white stone that declares that we are forgiven, justified. This is God’s grace. When one stands before God’s judgment seat he is given either a white stone or a black stone. A black stone says that a man is guilty and deserving of death; the white stone means that he is innocent. By the blood of Jesus we are pronounced innocent. We are justified and given an admission ticket to the wedding feast of the Lamb. On this white stone he writes my new name. I belong to Jesus; He belongs to me; not for the years of time alone, but for eternity.

Jesus loves these three churches–Ephesus, Smyrna and Pergamum– in spite of weaknesses. The church in Ephesus is the home base of the church in Asia Minor. The other churches were pioneered from there. It seems to be the strongest, but it is most in danger of having its lampstand removed because it has forsaken its first love. We also must repent of our failure to live lives of love. We must overcome selfishness and restore our love relationship with Jesus and with each other and eat at the tree of Life in the paradise of God. Jesus wants each church to overcome. He promises spiritual blessings and victory. He knows our strengths and weaknesses. He wants us to repent and restore our love for God and for each other. We must spend time reading the word of God. We must spend time with God in prayer. We must be full of thanksgiving instead of complaints. Our love relationship with God is restored when we repent and turn from the world to God. Our love relationship with God is restored when we obey him and love one another. As we begin the year 2009, let us begin with repentant hearts as we come to Jesus, asking him to restore our first love and help us do the things we did at first. May he help us to overcome and love God and one another.