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.
Revelation 2:2-5 ESV
‘I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. 4 But’…… it’s this one word that shifts all of the right activity.
I’ve been reflecting much lately on the ‘looking for and hastening the return of the Lord’ the apostle Peter wrote about in his second letter. I’m aware that without this expectancy of his return, we don’t really look for it and this impacts every part of our daily lives.
Busy with activities, doings without a vital connection to the one who said ‘apart from me you can do nothing’, John 15:6. Oh we can do, but the implication is we do this out of our own strength and power without producing any supernatural impact or fruit. Much like Jesus pointed out in Lukes gospel about the works done but he did not know them, Mt. 7:23. Jesus accused the religious leaders of carrying out traditions without the power of God, Mark 7:13.
By the time we come to the revelation of Jesus Christ given to the Apostle John we are looking at the second generation of disciples. As I consider the writings from the New Testament it is clear that these first Christians lived with a daily looking for Jesus to return just as he had ascended, Acts 1:9-11. It was this one expectation that seemed to be challenged as the days and years went on. We find varying epistles written to encourage the weary in their waiting. Towards end of Peter’s life we find him writing specifically to hold disciples to the truth noting the false apostles coming who challenged Jesus’ return, 2 Peter 3. It is necessary to remember that the last days hold great deception.
Failed expectations create an open door. Hope deferred makes the heart sick. A sick heart opens us up to the questioning of all we have been taught and believed. This warning to the church of Ephesus reminds us of how we can fall into a place of works - thinking they are acceptable only to find they require a repentance before the Lord because of our heart condition. Jesus did not say quit the works, he said get the heart right and do what you did at first.
It is the expectation of his return that holds us in the ‘fear of the Lord’. Working while it is still day we live making sure our doing does not exceed our being vitally united to Him. Our motivation for all we do must be rooted and grounded in the love we have for Him and for others. His compassion must be allowed to flow from us freely and unhindered. Let all you do be done in love, 1 Cor. 16:14. Christ in us is the hope of glory for these days.