You’ve lost That Lovin’ Feeling’
Do you remember the heartache of breaking up with a boyfriend or girlfriend in high school? Our teenage angst was often accompanied by a sad song about lost love, breakups, and ruined romances. Songs like “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling” or “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers Anymore,” have always been staples of popular music.
Where Did Your Love Go?
Lost love in any form is heart-wrenching. That is why it is so surprising to find Jesus telling the church at Ephesus, “I hold this against you. You have lost your first love.” Revelation 2:4: This serious indictment, written by John in AD 90, deserves more than some sad background music. How could a strong, growing group of believers become cold in their faith? And what can we do to keep from seeing our love for Jesus grow cold?
Paul founded the church at Ephesus during his third missionary journey to Asia Minor. The Ephesian church was regarded as one of the most vibrant Christian churches at the time, and several of Paul’s disciples, including Timothy, led the church for many years.
Around AD 60, Paul wrote to the Ephesian church from prison. He closed his letter by commending them for their love of Jesus: “Grace to you who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.” Ephesians 6:23: how did this “undying” love for Jesus become forgotten over the next 30 years?
Who Were the Ephesians?
The Ephesian church grew in a world filled with spiritual battles. Economic pressures, cultural turmoil, and religious confusion threatened to pull them away from their new faith in Jesus to replace their love for Jesus, much like we face today.
The Roman-controlled city of Ephesus was an economic powerhouse on the Mediterranean shore because major trade routes from Asia and China intersected there. Its society comprised three classes: the aristocrats, who controlled all the power; the working middle class of businesspeople and craftsmen; and the urban poor, who were dependent on those above them. Dozens of immigrant ethnic groups brought clashing cultural and religious systems, which mixed into a hodgepodge of beliefs. At the center of their religious worship was the Temple of Artemis, where ritual prostitution and rampant sexuality were practiced. Cults and false religious teachers took advantage of these spiritually confused people.
Ephesus - A Spiritual Battlefield
During his nearly three years in Ephesus, Paul built the church by leading the new believers to learn sound doctrine and to live in ways that reflected their beliefs. However, their new Christian beliefs directly conflicted with those of their surrounding world.
After Paul departed, the Ephesians slowly began to fall away instead of continuing to pursue Christ with their original devotion. That is why Paul ends his letter by warning about spiritual warfare and encouraging them to stand firm, “put on the full armor of God so you can stand against the Devil’s schemes.” Ephesians 6:10.
Holding Onto Our First Love
Does the Ephesians’ situation sound like ours today? We, too, are surrounded by economic, spiritual, and social confusion. But the Bible teaches that if you know Jesus, you have been called out of this world and into a different kingdom. That’s why Romans 12:2 implores us: “Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its mold but let God re-mold your minds from within.”
Our first love is the love of Christ, who died to set us free from this world of sin. We each have a choice. We can either strengthen our love for Jesus or risk allowing it to fade. We can either be transformed by the love of Jesus or become squeezed into the world’s mold. What are you doing today to make sure your love grows deeper?
Maranatha,
Andy
