“Church was great today. I wish you could have been there,” wrote a third grader. To Jesus. What if Jesus came to church? What would he see? What would he say? John saw Jesus going to church seven times. Jesus walked among the golden lampstands of the churches. He came first to Ephesus. The Apostle Paul ministered in Ephesus and wrote a letter to them. He sent Timothy to be their pastor and wrote letters to him. Church history tells us John also served as a pastor there.
What did Jesus see at Ephesus? Some good things and some bad things. The Christians at Ephesus worked hard, persevered and were intolerant of unrepentant sin. They persevered and suffered and did not grow weary. All good things. So what was wrong in Ephesus? They no longer loved Jesus first and most. “You have forsaken the love you had at first.” This was a great fall for them. But there was hope: Repent and do the things you did at first. But what if they did not? Jesus would remove their lampstand and shut the doors.
An elderly couple driving down a country road observed their loss of closeness. The wife asked, “Do you remember when I used to sit right next to you in the pickup?” The husband, who was driving, observed, “I have not moved.” I hate to meddle, but may I ask. Have we ever loved Jesus more than we do now? When was that? Why did we stop? He has not moved. Identify the object of your mind’s attention and heart’s affection. If it is not Jesus, then repent and return to love him as you once did. The good news is we have time to turn, if we will. Then our song will ring true: “If ever I loved thee, my Jesus, ‘tis now.”
