March 12, 2003
Reading: Revelation 2:1-7

 

“Nevertheless, I have this against you” (4)

 

When Jesus addressed the seven churches in Asia, He did so honestly and specifically – what else can we expect from Him who is both “Faithful and True” Rev 19:11. There are several interpretations as to the meaning of these letters – to the local churches as they existed (this is obvious); that each church mentioned represents the spiritual condition of the church over the years up to the present; that each church represents a period of church history, etc. While looking at the historical perspective of these letters we must never ignore the spiritual application to us as individuals. Many sermons have been preached with this in mind (usually taking a specific text out of context to do so). It is a personal application about which the Holy Spirit has recently laid on my heart.

In five of the seven letters, while Jesus commends the church for their stand, He reveals something with which He is displeased. He commends the Christians at Ephesus for their “labor and patience” and their perseverance in laboring in His name (Rev 2:2-3). However, in their Christian service, they had left their first love (4). This can be applied to so many of us as we strive to serve Him – our labor takes priority over our love for Christ.

The poignant concept is, however, that God, in His faithfulness, is not slothful (if I may use a Biblical word) in bringing to our attention those things which are still displeasing to Him. This is a part of our sanctification, of being changed from glory to glory into the image of Himself (2 Cor 3:18). On two occasions, His Father announced to the world, “This is My Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matt 3:17; 17:5). The Father could say this because there was no sin in Jesus (1 Peter 2:22). When Jesus, the Son of Man, was held up to the standard of God’s holiness, He met it perfectly – no weakness, no fault, no sin. When compared to that same standard, God has to say of us, “Nevertheless, I have this against you” (Rev 2:4). To most He will be speaking of a besetting sin (Heb 12:1) - that with which we have the most difficulty, that which always seem to have the victory over us.

The sin is wrong but the faithfulness of God is wonderful. He lets us know that nothing is hidden from Him – He sees everything and knows our every weakness and sin. Rather than condemn us for it (Rom 8:1) He has provided a solution – “Repent and do the first works” Rev 2:5. This is the way of progress – as God reveals our sin, we are called upon to repent, to turn away from it and walk with Him in the opposite direction. The solution is the same to each church where Jesus said, “I have this against you” – repent. Some will say repentance is for the unsaved. Yes, it is, but it is also for the saved. The Ephesian Christians were saved and their love for Christ was deep and dynamic, but now it had waned. This was something they needed to recognize and from which to repent.

“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us” 1 John 1:8-10. When God says, “I have this against you,” we must agree and repent. If we disagree with God, we call Him a liar.

At the end of the day, we all long to hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matt 25:23). This can only be accomplished as we live lives of recognition and repentance of our sins.