Ephesus: First Things First

The first church that John is instructed to send a letter to is the one in Ephesus. Christ pictures Himself as the one who is powerfully in control and intimately involved with the churches. He praises them for ten specific things that describe their character and lifestyle - they are doing well. But there is a serious problem, as they have left their first love. They are going through the motions of being busy for Christ, but they have neglected the one who loved them first. The prescription for the "ailment" requires obeying three commands: Remember (think back to how you got off track), repent (turn around by changing your mind) and repeat (return to the lifestyle that you did when you were first saved). These instructions are backed up with a promise from Christ: overcomers (true believers) will get to eat of the tree of life (thus living forever) in the Paradise (garden) of God - refreshed planet earth.