Evangelical Ephesus Here and Now

 

Jesus' messages for today, here and now!

Revelation 2 English Standard Version (ESV)

To the Church in Ephesus

2 “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.

2 “‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. 3 I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary. 4 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. 6 Yet this you have: you hate the works ofthe Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’

How I long to eat of the fruit of the tree of eternal life which is in the garden paradise of God.  To overcome, and be worthy of Him is the highest ideal of my life.  To seek to please Him makes me happy.  Do you know what makes Jesus the happiest?  Loving Him makes our Lord happy.  worshipping Jesus pleases Him and empowers us.

So, what does Jesus message to Ephesus have to do with you and I today?  I think we are Ephesus.  (And Sardius).  Of course, most Evangelical Scholars of our day say we are Laodecia, luke warm and repulsive to Christ.  (Missler, Welty)  

Why do I say we are Ephesus?  Because of all the reasons:  Jesus walks among us.  He moves with power.  We are the golden lampstands empowered by His Spirit.  He is present when we work and when we worship.  We don't worship HIm enough.  We work, we toil, we have patience, we endure, we don't tolerate false doctrine, etc, etc, etc.  But, how we have fallen,  we have abandoned our first love, specifically the Churchs lack of love for others, and, alas, our love for Christ has grown cold.  (Need an example?  Look at the divorce rate.  Look at the people in your own life who could and should love you but don't.  We don't need to look any further.)

It is time for the Evangelical Church, Ephesus, you and I to repent.  That simply means to turn back to love andj obey Jesus.  And to simply love, cherish and help one another.  May God empower us to.