0973. The Church at Ephesus
The Church at Ephesus
"Neverthless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love" (Rev_2:4)
When Paul visited Ephesus, he found a people who received the Truth into honest hearts. For three years he labored among them. When at last the time came for him to leave them he gave this solemn warning:
"For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them" (Act_20:29-30).
Matters turned out quite as Paul prophesied.
At the time the Apostle John addressed the seven Letters to the Churches of Asia, and carried forth the message of the Risen Christ to them, the Church at Ephesus was reckoned as a strong and healthy spiritual body.
1. Let us notice some of the good things that the Spirit of God was glad to emphasize concerning Ephesus.
(1) "I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience." What a sweep of commendation there is in these words." Not only was Ephesus full of works, but she was full of works that were laborious; undertakings that were difficult of accomplishment. Better still–is all of this, Ephesus had been patient. She had perhaps ofttimes been faint, but she had been "still pursuing." She had met obstacles but, she had persevered and overcome them. She had been of the class who "lap as they run" but who never stop to stoop and drink–she was worthy of being numbered in "Gideon's three hundred."
(2) "I know * * how thou canst not bear them which are evil; and thou hast tried, them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars." Ephesus as a Church stood against two phases of church-membership.–First, she disciplined the morally corrupt, and secondly, she disciplined those who were mentally corrupt. Neither bad deeds nor bad doctrine were permitted untried in her fellowship.
In all of this Ephesus is a rebuke to the generality of churches of today. We have but little discipline any more. Church-members can live as they list, because as they list, and still hold places of honor in many of our churches and denominations.
(3) "I know * * thou * * hast borne, and hast patience, and for My name's sake hast labored, and hast not fainted." This is more than we found in (1), for this expresses a patient endurance and an unwearied continuance of labor. It brings in view how Ephesus, 'mid many trials within and without, had patiently pressed her way. She had not fainted under the most trying times. Persecution had not weakened her fidelity.
2. Let us notice the root of evil that the Spirit of God saw in Ephesus–"Thou hast left thy first LOVE."
No casual observer, in fact, no close observer, would have detected this departure. However, it was not a light matter–"somewhat" is not in the original. The complaint does not read: "I have somewhat against thee," as though it was of small consequence. The Spirit wrote–"I have against thee that thou hast left thy first love."
The matter was so serious that the Spirit cried out, "Remember from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works," or else "I will come upon thee and remove thy candlestick."
Let this sink deeply into our hearts. A church may be ever so full of works and ever so true in life and in doctrine, and yet be far away from the One Who loved the church and bought it with His own Blood. A church may be busy for Him, and yet lose sight of Him.
As we proceed in this study of the churches the way will grow darker and darker, but it will all prove to be the outgrowth of this first defection–"Thou hast left thy first love."
Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR