Do you remember when you first fell in love? I do or at least what I thought was love at the time. I was in Junior High School (Middle School). What the attraction was, I am not certain, only that he was someone I wanted to know better. We dated for a while. During the summer after I graduated from high school, something changed and I wasn't quite as enamored anymore. It wasn't anything he did or didn't do, it was just that my feelings had changed somehow, other people and activities intruded. It simply wasn't the same anymore.
If you are a born again Christian, do you remember when you first asked Jesus into your life? I remember that quite clearly. My world changed dramatically. Everything looked brighter, felt cleaner and safer. When reading the Bible, I could see things I never saw before. Love was in the air. I had the warm and fuzzy feeling and that I was loved so much. I was constantly wanting to pray and be at church. Now there was a mystery to me. Where were all the people? We went to church every time the doors were open but most folks only showed up on Sunday morning. In our case, we were going to a church that served mostly college students who apparently were too busy to be there on Wednesday nights and Sunday evenings. I just could not understand that. What was more important than going to church and being fed in the Word of God?
Ah, but then things changed. I began to be busy at a job the Lord provided. Worries and situations developed. I don't really even remember what they were now. Although I was still praying and reading the Word of God, we didn't go to church as much. Sometimes, it was because we simply could not get there. Then it was easier not to go out at night. It was easier not to get up early to find our way to church on Sunday morning. After all, there are preachers on TV, right? We can get fed in the Word of God that way.
The Lord recently directed me to the book of Revelation, Chap. 2, verses 1-7. This is the first church that Jesus asks John to write about. A letter from Jesus is being sent to the church of Ephesus. In it, Jesus identifies Himself by telling them He is the One Who holds the seven stars in His hand and walks among the seven lampstands. (the seven stars are the angels of the churches and the lampstands are the churches. Rev. 1:20) He mentions their attributes, things He is pleased with. This church looks like it really had it going on. They started out believing and giving themselves to Jesus. The church grew and prospered. They recognized evil for what it was and kept it out. Good works and hard labor were part of their foundation. They had patience. They found the liars who said they were apostles but were not. Jesus recognized them for their stedfastness in all they did.
How could Jesus have anything at all against them? How could He have anything bad to say? Look at all He liked about them. Nevertheless, He did have a problem. Apparently, they were so busy working and doing things FOR Him that they forgot all about the Lord Jesus Himself. The forgot to honor Him.
Picture a family of 5 people, two parents and three kids. The father is a businessman. The mother has meetings and clubs to attend. The kids are all in high school in activities such as football, several clubs, dating. It is rare that they even see each other for more than a few minutes a day at breakfast, occasionally at suppertime. These people are so busy at what they are doing that they don't see what they are not doing. This family is headed for disaster because they have lost the love of family. They don't take time to be together. They have lost their first love! Does this sound familiar to you? That was exactly what Jesus accused the church of Ephesus of doing. He told them to repent and get back to the beginning.
Have you lost your first love of Jesus? Has the world taken up your time so that you can't seem to find the time to read your Bible or to go to church? Is your prayer time something you do for a couple of minutes in the car or at the table as you say grace? If any of these things are true or if you can think of other reasons for having strayed away from your first love of Jesus, I urge you to get back to the beginning. Remember what it was like to be born again. Remember the wonder of it all! Bring yourselves into the throne room and seek the face of the Lord. What a glorious thing that is!
If you have never asked Jesus into your heart, this is a great time to do so. If you have strayed from the path the Lord gave you, I urge you to come back. He is waiting for you! Despite what you might think, you are NOT a lost cause. Jesus loves YOU! Our time on this earth is so very short. We believe that we are in the last days as the Bible fortells. If you would like to ask Jesus into your heart right now, please pray with me:
Lord, I have sinned. Please forgive ALL of my sins regardless of what they are. Wash me clean, make me a new creation just as You said You would in Your Bible (2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."). I ask You to come into my heart and live with me forever! Please fill me to overflowing with Your Holy Spirit. Thank You, Lord. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, welcome to the family of God. Please take the time to start reading your Bible. A good place to begin is in John in the new testament. Then, please try to find a good Bible-believing church and attend regularly. There you will find support for your decision. They will instruct you on where to go from here. But do remember this day. Never forget your first Love! And remember, you are loved!
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