Reveling in the RevelationRevelation 2 - You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’

Going in the Wrong Direction

We were driving from Dallas to Atlanta and stopped to eat

and refuel. As I returned to the Interstate, Jean said, “I

think we are going in the wrong direction.” Of course, I

replied, “No way. I know what I’m doing.”

Just then, we passed a familiar building, and I sheepishly

looked at Jean and said those three little words husbands

hate to say: “You’re right, Honey.” But to get to Atlanta

instead of back to Dallas, I still needed to turn around at

the next exit and head back east.

I agreed with Jean about my mistake and took action to

change directions. In church, we call that confessing and

repenting. (I probably should have also said, “I will never

do that again,” but Jean knew better.)

Something like this occurred with the church in Ephesus

long before interstate highways existed. In Revelation 2

and 3, John records Jesus' messages to seven churches

in Asia Minor. In each letter, Jesus commends the church

for its faith and actions, rebukes it for its failures, and then

suggests corrective actions.

The Ephesus Church Lost its Way

The first church he addresses is the great church at

Ephesus. It was established by the Apostle Paul sixty

years earlier and was led by an all-star string of pastors,

including Timothy and John. It was the church that the

other churches wanted to grow up and be like.

So it is surprising when Jesus said in Revelation 2:4, “Yet

I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first

love. 5Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do

the things you did at first.”

With everything going for it, how could this church begin

to lose its way in a few short years? Jesus told them they

had become so focused on doing their ministry programs

that they had lost their passion and fervor for Jesus, their

first love. They were so focused on the what of ministry

that they lost sight of the why.

Jesus offered them a three-step process for returning to

their original focus on Jesus: Remember, Repent, and

Return. Let’s examine this advice and see if it applies to

our lives, especially if we have lost our passion or are

experiencing a time of spiritual dryness.

Remember. When I got lost driving to Atlanta, the first

thing I did, with Jean’s help, was recognize and agree with

her that I was driving in the wrong direction. But until I

confessed that, I could not have changed directions.

Jesus told the Ephesians to remember where they were

going and what was necessary and to agree or confess

that they were on the wrong path.

Repent. If I had agreed with Jean that we were going in the

wrong direction but stubbornly kept driving, we would

have ended up back in Dallas. I had to make a U-turn and

reverse course to get where we wanted.

Repent means to have a change of mind that leads to a

change of direction. Throughout the Bible, God calls His

people back to Himself by repenting from their wayward

paths and changing to His paths.

Return. Jean will tell you that I can be so stubborn that I

resist change, especially if it means admitting I am

wrong. Does this sound familiar? We all want to follow

our own path into the forest until we suddenly realize we

are lost and don’t know how to get out. But God would

prefer we not get lost in the first place.

Part of God’s plan to keep us from getting lost in our sin is

what Tim Keller calls repudiating. Repudiating is a two-

dollar word that means forsaking sinful behavior and

giving it no power or authority over our lives.

When You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’

We all have habits and tendencies that build up over time,

interfering with our growth and fellowship with the Lord.

Jesus tells the Ephesians and us to identify these, turn

away from them, and render them powerless in our lives.

So, if you feel powerless or have lost your passion for your

relationship with Jesus, remember these driving

instructions: Confess - Agree with God that you are

heading in the wrong direction. Repent - Turn around and

go in the other direction. Return - To your relationship

with Jesus and reject those things that try to interfere.

Maranatha,

Andy