The First Works

 Rev.2:4-5, ‘Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. ⁵ Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.’

 The 2^nd and 3^rd chapters of the book of Revelation has the messages which  the Lord has for the seven churches. These churches were literal churches during those times. And they represent the various spiritual levels of today’s churches and individual lives. Some say that they also represent the seven time periods of church history, the latest representing the present i.e. today’s church or spiritual world. More than that, these messages are precious in the sense that they weigh our own hearts and ways before the Lord as we read and meditate them. Here, we see our Lord, not as a Saviour or a compassionate healer, but as a judge who is not willing to make any compromises on any of His standards and expectations. As we ponder over these chapters, let’s pray that God speaks to each of us in a personal way, so that our preparation does not lack anything that might deprive us of the eternal life.

Each message to each church is given to the concerned angel, which means each church has an angel as a messenger of the Lord, to whom He reveals His counsel, which in turn is passed on to the church. We need to seek His counsel time and again regarding ourselves, our church, ministry, families, nations etc so that we understand ourselves better. Many things are hidden from our eyes. Only God can reveal our hidden sins and  lead us to repentance.

The first message was for the church in Ephesus, which was a great commercial centre of Asia Minor. It was noted for great temple of Diana, one of the wonders of the ancient world. Acts 19 speaks about apostle Paul’s visit to this place. In Rev.2:2-3, the Lord speaks about all that He knew. He knows all that we want Him to know i.e all our works, labor, patience etc. In v 4, He speaks of things which we do not know. The Lord pointed out to one aspect which stood against the church in Ephesus  which was the ‘first love’. In all other works and labor, they attained a good certificate but this one fall challenged their eternal life with Christ. How easily we assume that we will inherit eternity in Christ ! May the Lord open our inner eyes to see ourselves as He sees us. All our labor is of much importance for the Lord, but only when each of them are backed up with a heart full of first love for the Lord. Take note- its not just ‘love’. Its about the ‘first love’. In Verse 5, there is a sharp rebuke and call for repentance, accompanied by a threat of loosing the lampstand which represents the eternal life, if they would fail to repent. The Lord commanded them to repent and to do the first works.

To understand ‘first works’ we need to understand about the ‘first love’. It’s the passion that first fills our heart for a person with whom we fall in love. This is a powerful emotion but more than just an emotion, it brings out a deep commitment towards the person. Gen.29:20 says about Jacob for whom 7 years seemed like a few days . He had served Laban, his uncle for 7 years just to marry Rachel, whom he loved with all his heart. The service done was indeed not an easy one. Being in submission to a person like Laban was itself a tough thing, and serving him would surely be tougher. But all the toughness of the service was swallowed up by the deep love for Rachel.

The church of Ephesus had indeed done a massive ministry and the Lord did acknowledge them all. We often desire to be acknowledged for all the labor and ministry we do for the Lord. But when we keep them all before the love of God for us and what He did for us, a deep love for the Lord fills our heart and all the labor and pain taken to serve Him seems to be nothing. When we have the first love for the Lord, we will not desire any acknowledgement or benefits for all that we do for Him.  Its interesting to read the prayer of apostle Paul in his epistle to church in Ephesians (Eph.3:14-21), where he prays  that all are strengthened in inner man to comprehend the length, breadth, depth and height of God’s love. The apostle too had seen this lack of this church and was lead by the Spirit to write this prayer.

In Luke 19, we read about a man named Zac-chae-us. He was the chief among publicans. One day, he felt an urge to see Jesus, about whom he had heard much. For this, this short man ran before and climbed up a sycamore tree. His desire was to just see Jesus. And the joy he had when Jesus stopped and called him by name was  beyond words. Jesus told Zachaeus that He was coming to his house that day. Soon, this publican started restoring all that he had taken from poor by false accusation. This is the result of joy of salvation. Many of us, in due course of time have lost this joy. Our faith life continues as a traditional list of many ‘do’s’ and ‘don’t’s’. At times, we do great things for the Lord without getting our hearts involved in it. But here is where the Lord says that we need to do the first works. This includes having the exceedingly great joy of having Jesus as our Lord and God. Just as Zac-chae-us sought  to just see Him, our hearts need to pant to see our Lord’s glory in our prayers, in our hearts, in  word meditation etc. This is the first love- longing to see the lover of our soul, to be just in His presence, admiring and worshipping Him. When we have this, repentance always follows naturally. Zac-chae-us did not need any preaching nor did he witness any miracle. The presence of the Lord was enough to do the needful. The deep thirst for the Lord’s presence & the deep conviction and repentance that follows it is the first works.

In Luke 15:11-32, we see the lost son returning back to his father. His attitude towards his father is worth taking note of. He desired only one thing i.e the acceptance of his father. Here, the acceptance was not desired even as a son, but as of a hired servant. How many of us seek our heavenly Father’s acceptance on a daily basis or do we assume that we have been accepted by heaven once and for all ? Even the church of Ephesus assumed that they were accepted by heaven, till the time when the message of the Lord for them was revealed. This son did not seek any material benefits from his father. He deeply desired only to be back home, the home of love and forgiveness, a home which was filled with his father’s presence. When he got the acceptance which he sought for, he was given all the authority and privileges which he did not seek for. This seeking attitude to be accepted by heaven on a daily basis is the first works.

The first works of Zac-chae-us and the prodigal son encourages us to examine our relation with our Lord.  Both rendered their love and respect not only to their Lord, but also to all around them. Zac-chae-us  gave half of his goods to the poor, thus showing his  love for them. The prodigal son did not have anything to argue with his brother who had not liked his return. Rather he was silent to all the accusations. When we love our Lord with first love, we begin loving all others around us unconditionally. The first works follow the first love.

Are our works arising out of the relation of deep love for the Lord ? If not, they are just works and are of little importance in the sight of the Lord. This aspect might be small in man’s eyes . But what is small in man’s eyes is big enough in God’s eyes to rob  us off the privilege to eat from the tree of life. No sin is big or small. Sin is sin and its wages is death. Let’s use the remaining days of our lives to examine our relation with the Lord more than anything else. If this is set right, all else that follows will be rightly set. May God strengthen us to return to the first love for the Lord and first works. May all our labor for the Lord not end up in vain, but instead be fruitful.

God bless us all

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