ON OUR FIRST LOVE

Madeline J. Martin

A reading of Revelation 2:1-6, Christ speaking to the Church in Ephesus through St John, prompted the following reflections.

Christ commended the early Christians in Ephesus for their patience and perseverance in all their sufferings associated with persecution. They did not lose heart and they did refute the Nicolaitans – who were, I think, a heretical group of Christians whom Irenaeus, in the 2nd century, described as lovers of indulgence, luxury and loose living.

It seems that Ephesus, the Mother Church of the time, chalked up some credits. But Our Lord also had a complaint against the people there, that ‘they had lost their first love’. I read and reread that verse several times as I wondered at its real meaning.

It seems to me that ‘its first love’ was the enthusiasm and joy Ephesus first showed to all when it heard and received the Good News. That initial awakening and awareness of the fullness of the Holy Spirit inundating the whole community of believers was so awesome. But this great wonderment seemed to be failing in their hearts. God was reminding them that zeal for his kingdom on earth must never fail.

I find too that taking my precious faith for granted is just so easy. To communicate it joyfully and encouragingly can become a chore if I don’t keep up prayer and Scripture reading. We all need to keep encouraging each other and keeping the flame of faith alive and virile.

St Paul said that in our faith we don’t show a spirit of timidity but rather a roaring flame. We need each other. New believers need the warmth and friendship of a close community like that which the Holy Trinity calls us into and through. In Hebrews 3:13 we are told to keep encouraging one another as long as this day on earth lasts. As an individual I know I need others always in my weakness, and I have the responsibility to be available when others need me to be a channel of God’s strength to them.

Ephesus was the capital of a province in Asia, a Gentile area. St Paul being the apostle to the Gentiles, as are we, I decided to look a bit closer at the church in Ephesus. Acts 19 told me that Paul made many visits to Ephesus. After each of his journeys, he went to Ephesus to rest and renew himself. Like the rest of us, he needed personal contact with his fellow Christians, like-minded people whom he could talk to. Paul not only preached community, he lived it.

In 54 CE in Ephesus Paul found some twelve believers in Christ Our Lord who had received the baptism of John the Baptist, but knew nothing of the Holy Spirit. Paul remedied that: and they were all immediately baptised by the Holy Spirit, receiving all the gifts and joys.

I also refound Apollo, who fits in here. The conclusion of Acts 18:24-28 tells about him.

Apollo was a Jew from Alexandria in Egypt. He had expert knowledge of the Scriptures and was an eloquent and powerful preacher. He had some knowledge of ‘The Way of the Lord’ and was accurate in his teaching of it, but he too was only baptised as of John the Baptist. One day he was preaching in the synagogue at Ephesus when Priscilla and Aquila, two fervent Christians, heard him and they realised he needed more tuition. They took him home with them and filled in his education.

Apollo was a humble man and knew where he was lacking in knowledge; he accepted the teaching of these two faithful and fervent people. He became extremely convincing in public debate with the Jews and was able to prove to them from the Scriptures that Jesus Christ was the long-awaited Messiah.

Eventually Paul came to Ephesus, but he didn’t have the same success preaching in the synagogue, though he persisted for three months. He then moved to a school in Ephesus and taught for five hours every day for two years.

In verse 11 of Acts 19 we are told that ‘God did extraordinary deeds of power through the hands of Paul’. This extraordinary story is told in the all-exciting Book of Acts! My rereading of it was a source of ‘fuel to the flame’, very much needed! My faith waxes and wanes too, day by day, like the early Ephesians. I thank God for bringing my attention to it again now.

When I go back to Revelations 2:4, I am reminded to repent and remain fervent in faith so as to reclaim that ‘first love’ so precious to Our Lord. And he warned that community that they could lose their position in the kingdom if God ‘removed their lampstand’! Let us pray not so.