This morning we’re beginning a series of messages from the Book of Revelation - entitled 7 Messages to 7 Churches. Our emphasis is on how we can live trusting God today - knowing that God is in control of the future. I invite you to turn with me to Revelation 2:1-7 and together we’re going to look at the first message which was given to the church of Ephesus.

This past week there was - as there has been for months now - a number news reports about Y2K - this computer glitch that’s suppose to shut down all our computers on January 1, 2000.

The big question - which no one has an answer for - is what will happen? Is this all just a lot of exaggerated fears - or will the world really shut down - in some sort of technological meltdown?

I can imagine this coming up on my computer screen: “This world has performed and illegal function and will be shut down.”

This whole Y2K thing touches on one of our deepest concerns - the future. What will happen? The future is always in transition - unknown. Will the future bring sickness or health - life or death - what will happen to my family? How will I be able to handle the future if I’m struggling just to keep up with today?

When the Bible speaks about the future the emphasis is not some sort of chronological timeline - a list of future historical events that we’re suppose to check off as we go by. Although the Bible does mention events that will happen - the emphasis of the Bible is that God is in control of the future and that we need to trust Him in the present.

Let me emphasize that: The purpose of prophecy is to declare God’s authority and power over all things and to call His people to trust Him. Whatever happens in the future - if we’re trusting God - we’ll be okay.

The Apostle John - some 60 years after Jesus returned to heaven - was living in exile on the Island of Patmos - about 50 miles off the coast of Turkey - banished because he had been sharing about Jesus. On a Sunday - Jesus - appears to John and tells him to write down in a book the things that are being revealed to him. What John wrote is what we have today as the Book of Revelation.

The Book of Revelation deals mainly with what will happen. But these 7 letters to the 7 churches are in a part of the book that deal with what is happening. In other words - Jesus is talking to His church - and us - about how to live today - knowing that God is in control of the future.

Revelation 2:1: “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: The words of Him - Jesus - who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.”

Let’s stop there for minute. Go back up one verse to 1:20. Jesus explains what all this symbolism means. He says, “the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.”

Literally - the seven angels are seven messengers. Its suggested here that each church has a heavenly being responsible for guiding the human leadership of the church - to help the leaders and congregation know what is in the heart of our Lord.

The lampstands are the churches. A lampstand holds up the light. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.” (John 8:12) We’re not the light - but we hold up the light - the truth - the Gospel of Jesus Christ - in the world.

In 2:1, Jesus holds the church leadership in His right hand - a position of authority and protection - and He walks among the churches. The point is that Jesus intimately knows what is happening in His church. Jesus is our authority and protector in this world while we are proclaiming His Gospel.

Verse 2: “I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear evil men but have tested those who call themselves apostles but are not, and found them to be false; I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary.”

Ephesus was the most prominent city in the Roman province of Asia. It had harbor - theaters - a library - it was a major market place with trade from all over the world - it was tourist mecca - a major religious center for pagan and demonic religions. Well, it was a lot like San Francisco. To be a Christian was not popular or politically correct - it meant persecution - isolation.

The Church in Ephesus was a metropolitan church in the middle of all this. The church had been established by the Apostle Paul. Timothy had pastored there. John the Apostle had pastored there. It had good roots. In the midst of Ephesus they were faithfully serving Jesus Christ.

Imagine getting a commendation like this from Jesus. I see that you’re committed workers - you’ve stayed true to My teaching - and you’ve been holding up under difficult circumstances - enduring and persevering for Me. Its time for back slapping and high fives.

Verse 4: “But - Jesus says - I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.”

There are thousands of churches like this in America today. The congregations meet year after year - Sunday after Sunday - they sing hymns - pray - listen to sermons - recite a confession of faith that is right on Biblically - even do outreach - but they have no spiritual impact - there’s no change in people’s lives - no change in the community around them. They’re serving Jesus but they’re failures at upholding His light.

Hear this: It is possible to serve Jesus and yet be spiritually dead - failures as light bearers for Jesus Christ.

Jesus says that they’ve left their first love.

Watch people who have just fallen in love - they only see each other.

When I talk with people who have just come to know Jesus as their Savior they’re very single minded. The love of Jesus is almost incredible to them. They want to go to as many Bible studies as they can. They never miss church - and sometimes try to go to Saturday night, Sunday morning, and Sunday evening services. They carry their Bibles around - they’re always reading them - and telling everyone what God’s been teaching them. They pray at the drop of a hat. They’re constantly looking for ways to share their faith with others. They’re like children who have suddenly discovered the world - they want to explore and learn and live.

As more “mature” Christians we sometimes think that when they get along a little - and understand more about being a Christian - they’ll mello out.

What are we saying? That they’ll be more like us? Without the wonder and awe of knowing Jesus? Do we have that love for Jesus that we had when we first met Him - the longing - the wonder - the desire to serve and to be with Him - to see only Him in our lives.

Jesus said, “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.” (Matthew 10:37) Do we love our family first or Jesus? Which is the greater priority for us?

Paul writes, “One who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife, and his interests are divided.” (1 Corinthians 7:33,34) Who do we love more - our spouses or Jesus?

Paul writes to Timothy, “The love of money is the root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith.” (1 Timothy 6:10) Are we more interested in knowing what the stock market is doing - or what God wants to do in our life. When we have congregational meetings - do we spend more time talking about finances or ministry?

Jesus warns about the society in which we live, “Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold.” (Matthew 24:12)

We live with a constant battle to resist the pressures of our society which are designed to cool our love for God. And yet, we flirt with the world while trying to love God.

John warns us, “Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” (1 John 2:15)

Last - this warning from John, “Little children, guard yourselves from idols.” (1 John 5:21) Guard yourselves from anything that will occupy a greater place in your heart - a greater love and devotion - than God.

Gradually - in our lives - there’s a shift in focus. Doing things for Jesus. But our position, our status, our approval by others - our service balanced against everything else in our lives - these things become more important. We’re busy. But, we’re doing things without the same intense drive and motivation. We drift away from our first love.

This is hard to hear. But we need to be honest. How many of us can say that today we have the same fervent love for Jesus as when we first met Him?

Jesus says that we need to do two things. And, especially if we want to live today trusting God.

Verse 5: “Remember then from what you have fallen, repent and do the works you did at first.”

1. Remember - which means to look back

During World War II, when General Eisenhower first entered Germany - they took him to a Nazi death camp and showed him the furnaces - the bodies - the emaciated prisoners. Eisenhower gave an order that as many soldiers as possible were to come and see the death camp. He said that they needed to see the reason why they were fighting.

Sometimes we forget the grip sin has had on our lives. The spiritual battle we’re involved in and what we’re fighting against. When we’ve been Christians for a number of years we forget what it was like apart from Jesus - to be caught up in the sin of this world. - the emptiness of our lives - the lack of hope and purpose. Over time we forget the greatness of our salvation - how great is God’s love - how immeasurable His grace and mercy.

We need to remember what it was like when we first came to Jesus. How much we needed Him. Remember the joy. The desire to be with other Christians - to share our relationship in Him. The desire to be with Him and learn about Him and worship Him. Jesus says, “Remember where you came from.”

2. Repent - which means to turn back - a 180° change of mind

There is a Peanuts cartoon in which Charlie Brown is practicing archery in his backyard. Instead of aiming at the target, he would shoot the arrow at his fence and then walk over and draw a target around wherever the arrow stuck.

Lucy walks up and says, “Why are you doing this Charlie Brown?”

Charlie Brown answers, “This way I never miss.”

As Christians - if we want to grow in our love for Jesus - its important what we aim at. For many - we need to admit that we’ve grown cold in our love for Him - we’ve been aiming at the wrong targets. We need to take aim at renewing our love for Jesus - to focus on those things that renew our love for Him.

Jesus said, “Do the things you did when you first met me.” - the basics.

Spend time talking with Jesus in prayer. Spend time reading what He has written in the Bible. Spend quality time with Him and His other children. Learn to worship Him and Praise Him. Tell others about your relationship with Him.

Finally - at the end of the message to Ephesus - there’s this warning and a promise. Verse 5: if you do not remember and return - “I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.”

In light of what the future holds - without Jesus - we are on really shaky - uncertain - ground.

Verse 7 - the promise: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.”

Live today - renewing our love for Jesus Christ - and no matter what happens - Y2K - or something far worse - God promises us that we have the certainty of eternal life - paradise with Him.