REVELATION 2 - part 1

Liberia: The population of Liberia is 4.7 million and growing. 43% of the population is under 15 years old so Liberia is a young country. The average income per person is $216 US. Liberia is about 42% Christian which includes about 5% Catholic, about 16% Muslim with a strong conversion rate to the Gospel but a strong push by Muslims to increase the Muslim presence, and about 43% Ethnoreligionist which comprises animism, secret societies, fetishes, cults and spiritism.

 I am slowly reading through Revelation and chapter 2, verse 4 called me to meditation this week, "But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first". I had to ask myself these questions, "What does Jesus mean by the love you had at first? and Have I abandoned the love I had at first for God and for Jesus?" The church at Ephesus is not preaching heresy or involved in immorality. This church is orthodox, active and zealous. It has works which are done with patient endurance, hates evil, exposes heretic teachers and is enduring persecution. This church is doctrinaly sound, persevering, pure and active but there is one big problem - Jesus has been left behind. They have forgotten why they are doing what they are doing. They have forgotten who they live for. They have become accustomed to action, and confessing their beliefs and their allegiance to Jesus but they are not embracing Jesus. Religion has replaced relationship. Some consequences may result from this kind of toil without relationship to Jesus such as bitterness toward God and others, exhaustion, resentment toward fellow workers and the church, abandonment of service, immoral behavior to replace the lack of intimacy with the Father.

 Over the last couple of years I have come to experience and know the compelling power of the love of God to live the Christian life. It is easy to default to religion when this is neglected. The most important pursuit in our life should be personal worship and communion with God. Growing knowledge and fervent service will enhance this personal relationship but we must beware that it not replace it. In our relationship with God our Father we are often led to repentance, learn our dependence on God, have insight into God's purposes, and are empowered for ministry. As John, the apostle of love wrote at the end of his life, around the same time he wrote these verses in Revelation "Little children, keep yourselves from idols". Those idols may be good works, sound knowledge and religious practices. (1 John 5.21) Jesus said, "come to me that you may have life".

PS: 1 John 2.12-14 is a good study of the stages of spiritual maturity. Notice what the "little children" and the "fathers" have in common. Don't lose that in the zealous "young man" stage.