The Book of Revelation and the Church that lost its first love

Starting in Revelation Chapter 2, verses 1 through 7, is a message from Jesus Christ to the pastor (angel/messenger) of one of Asia’s most prominent churches in Ephesus. While the Ephesian church was careful to spot fraudulent apostles and endured the persecution of outsiders for its stance in the name of Jesus Christ, it still fell short in one important aspect of the Christian life. It has lost its first love. No longer did it love God with all its heart, soul, and mind, but had been focused on dead-cold orthodoxy and it needed to repent. The Ephesian church, though, is reminiscent of many churches who have done the same thing. Straight as a arrow doctrinally-speaking, they perform their duties in legalistic fashion and not out of a love for God, even though they may feign a dedication to God that is empty and cold. The message to the Ephesian needed to be take seriously, lest Jesus remove the congregation from existence. It is something all churches today need to consider, as well, lest they soon vanish and that without remedy.