Introduction

Introduction

(6) Howbeit we speak wisdom

among them that are perfect:

yet not the wisdom of this world,

nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:

But we speak the wisdom of God

in a mystery,

even the hidden wisdom,

which God ordained

before the world unto our glory:

Which none of the princes

of this world knew:

for had they known it,

they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

-1 Corinthians 2:6-8

 

       A mystery can be a novel, short story, play, or film whose plot involves an event that remains puzzlingly unsettled until the very end.  This definition can also describe the greatest mystery ever told.  This is the mystery God refers to in Revelation 2:4 as "the first love lost."

 

(1) Unto the angel

of the church of Ephesus write;

These things saith

he that holdeth

the seven stars in his right hand,

who walketh in the midst

of the seven golden candlesticks;

(2) I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience,

and how thou canst not bear them which are evil:

and thou hast tried them

which say they are apostles,

and are not,

and hast found them liars:

(3) And hast borne, and hast patience,

and for my name's sake

hast laboured,

and hast not fainted.

(4) Nevertheless

I have somewhat against thee,

because thou hast left thy first love.

(5) Remember therefore

from whence thou art fallen,

and repent,

and do the first works;

or else I will come unto thee quickly,

and will remove thy candlestick

out of his place,

except thou repent.

-Revelation 2:1-5

 

       In the King James Version, verse 4 actually reads, "...left thy first love" not "lost thy first love."  Nevertheless, in the original language, the word "left" provides a pictrue of abandoning, disregarding, and discarding.  However, it is also true that whatever we ignore usually goes away.  Therefore, when something has been disregarded and ignored, it is lost.

       Whatever has been discarded is also lost in the sense that it has been forgotten or is missing from the memory bank.

       Jesus commands churches to remember what it was that was abandoned and lost.  In order to avoid being removed from their perceived relationship with Christ, churches must find the memory or remember what was lost, repent of disregarding it, and do the first works.

       This passage begins with Jesus telling the church that all of their impressive good works do not qualify.  The passage ends with Jesus commanding the church to repent and do the first works.  Apparently these first works are required works that will qualify the church's relationship with Christ.

       How can any works qualify our relationship with Christ when we are not saved by works, but through faith alone?

       "...For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)

       Is the Word of God contradicting itself or are we getting closer to the mystery?

       In Revelation 1:20, we are told that the candlesticks are the seven churches and representative of all churches that call upon the name of Christ.

       If we do not unravel this mystery and remember exactly what it is that we have lost, so we can repent, our candlestick will be removed out of His place.  Symbolically it is the position (or the relationship the church has with God) that will be removed.

       Am I saying that if I am a real Christian I can, personally, lose my salvation?  No.  The candlestick represents the specific church of Ephesus and all churches that fit this profile.  This verse clearly states that it is the church that can be removed from its relationship and position in Christ.

       The true Church is not a worldly corporate organization created by men.  We have the world's "church" [manmade organization] and Christ's "Church" [true body of believers].  While members that make up false churches marked for removal will be removed, true believers who make up the true Church and Body of Christ will follow Him and not be found in these worldly churches. 

       Everyone who reads the Book of Revelation is being warned to examine the characteristics of the churches that are marked for removal and either be instrumental in their repentance or avoid them, lest they become guilty by association and also removed.  If we truly belong to Christ, He will lead us to do this because we have the promise in John, Chapter 10, that none of His (true) sheep will be lost.

       It is often said that true believers can be found in every church and every denomination.  Can't we assimilate into any church that calls itself "christian" and still be a Christian?

       No, we cannot do whatever we want.  

       Our church affiliation should not be based on geographic location, as in "attend your local church," or on our historical family affiliation, as in "it was good enough for my parents, so I guess it is good enough for me." We are to follow Christ like the sheep follow the shepherd.  If we are truly His sheep, we will follow Him and His Word in everything, including our church affiliation.

       Why would the Spirit of God warn us about this, if it was not important?

       If a church desires to decide for itself which (even religious) works it wants to engage in, instead of letting Christ lead them into the works He specifically wants them to do, why would a true follower of Jesus Christ join in their disobedience and idolatry (placing their own will above God's will)?

       How can we know if the works that are being done are really led by Christ?

       First of all we need to accept what Christ is telling us.  He is saying that some good works are not acceptable.  This will surprise many people no doubt, especially those who believe that Christianity is based on a system of our good works balancing out our bad deeds.  This idea of trying to balance evil with good comes from ancient pagan beliefs, not Christianity.

       We will know if a church is engaged in true Spirit-led works if our own works and theirs are coming out of the real "first works," which He has declared to be the priority.

       Are we saved by these first works?

       No, but without the first works we are not saved.  Herein we will discover the mystery.

       Perhaps the greatest characteristic of this mystery is that scholars believe for the most part that they have already identified the first love lost.  Therefore, it is hidden in the assumption that it is not lost at all.  They presume that the love lost is referring to the believer's love for Jesus.  But this is only part of the mystery.  God knows all things.  He knew that we would not even see the need to identify what was lost.  This is why He is commanding us to remember.

        I will say no more and risk revealing the mystery prematurely.

       The significance of this divine mystery could seriously alter the way the average person perceives the Bible.  But, it remains beyond the reach of most people today.  Therefore many are destined to miss out on the ultimate mystery of all time.  God Himself tells us that very few will have "eyes to see and ears to hear."  However, Mystery of the First Love Lost needs to be written for the few who do not yet realize that they have been given the capacity to receive these amazing secrets of God.

       How do we know if we are among the few who will understand this mystery?

       The truth is, if we are called to be among the few, we cannot miss it.  We will begin to discover the mystery when we are confronted by it and it will not let us go.  The detective in us will not rest until every rock is overturned, every clue is examined, and every piece of the puzzle is collected.

       Searching for the answer to the mystery will become a labor of love.  We will experience a sense of urgency and excitement with each step that brings us closer to discovering this "hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world, for our glory."  (1 Corinthians 2:7)

       This is not a glory that makes us gods or equal to God, but is the glory, or adornment, we receive through our relationship with Christ as His bride.  It is the result of basking in the light of His glorious character and wisdom, just as the moon reflects the light of the sun.

       This wisdom is so powerful, that if the enemies of God had known about it, they would not have crucified Christ--and this is the point.  They did not care to know.  They "loved the darkness rather than the light" because their deeds were evil.  They were presumptuous and preoccupied with going their own way.  Therefore they went down the wrong path.

       They had a vision before them, but it was the wrong vision.  They had a faith, but it was a counterfeit faith.  They had the Word of God, but it was a manipulated and fragmented Word.  Therefore even when they had a Jesus, it was not the real Jesus they had.

       The enemies of God made a serious mistake by underestimating the mystery and failed to see the value of this pearl of great price.  They were not interested.  They did not have time to pay attention to details and clues.  They had places to go, people to see, religion to spread, money to make, empires to build, and nests to feather.  So they tripped over the mystery, which had been hidden right in plain sight--and still failed to see it.

       The aspects and clues to the mystery of the first love lost are mysteries themselves.  Therefore, we are actually pursuing a mystery buried within many mysteries.  Thank God, like every good mystery, everything will be revealed in the end.

       According to the signs of the times, we are getting very close to the end right now.

       Would you like to see where you will appear in the picture when all of the pieces of this eternal puzzle come together?

       If so, pick up your magnifying glass and join me in discovering the amazing Mystery of the First Love Lost.