Revelation 2:4
My heart grieves over the condition of the world today! I am troubled when I learn another couple wants a divorce. I have seen the terror in the eyes of a child... who has been badly beaten. I've heard the cries of a mother... whose child has been killed and I've languished over the parent who kills their own child. My heart trembles... when I learn of a teen who joins a gang... just so they can belong to someone... I just can't wrap my mind around all of these things.
Jesus warned the church of Ephesus about leaving their first love and it appears to be the same problem for the church today. I believe it definitely applies to each and every one of us... who calls themselves a Christian today. We wonder what has happened? Where have we gone wrong? We must ask ourselves... "Where are the affections of our hearts?"
We may go to church every Sunday... we may be a caring and a giving people. We may be morally upright... and diligent in sharing the Word of God. We might endure suffering for Christ's sake... or be bound at the stake for our faith. These are all just a part of taking up our cross for Christ... the real question here would be... "As we go about our duties, are we growing deeper in love with the one... whom we are doing them for?"
In every and any Godly work I do... I must ask these questions, "Where are my affections? Is my love for Christ increasing as I go about doing all these things? Is He the greatest delight of my heart and soul? Am I growing constantly and closely to my Savior as I go about His business?" If my affections have not grown... if they are no longer a great concern to me... then I have left my first love and He has something to hold against me!
Think about the words of King David: "Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee." Psalm 73:25 These are some pretty straight forward and powerful words! David isn't saying, "I don't have human love." No... he is saying, "There is no one I love solely in my heart, as I love my Lord! I desire Him above ALL others."
David also states: "I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land." Psalm 143:6 As the hart (deer) panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. Psalm 42:1 David is thirsty... like that of a deer who thirsts after it has been chased. A deer will go past the point of exhaustion to find the water it seeks and desires.
And so it is... that Jesus is telling the Ephesian Christians, "You no longer seek Me as the deer seeks to drink. I am no longer the chief object of your desire and affections. You may be willing to do things for me... but I am not at the center of your heart... I am not the object of your affection any more!"
This is a check point for each of us, to go back to our first love today!! Don't waste another moment! Ask the Lord for grace and strength... and learn to guard your affections for Him!! Make it a point to review your acts... with your love for Jesus, for if you love is cold... most likely... so will your acts be.