I often speak aloud the wish Jesus would simply send me a text, email, sticky note - anything that would tell me what He wants me to do! I confess my frustration over difficult circumstances that prayer does not seem to resolve. I keep praying, and I perceive God as silent.
In the first letter to the church at Ephesus in Revelation, Jesus makes his intentions extremely clear. “Thus says the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand and who walks among the seven golden lampstands.” Rev 2:2 CSB In other words, believe in who I say I am. I hold everything in my right hand including the stars. This one statement would have been immediately recognized at the time of the writing as a direct reference to Caesar.
Historical coins have been discovered with Caesar Domitian holding in his right hand seven stars. This represented the seven heavenly bodies the Roman’s noted as fixed in the sky. Domitian claimed dominion over both Rome and the cosmos. Ephesus represented the height of Roman rule in Asia. When Jesus shows up in His true brilliance, he doesn’t mince words. He reminds the Ephesians that He, not Caesar, reigns supreme. Jesus is the true ruler of the universe, and the one who still walks among us. This fact was extremely different than the aloof Caesar who only wanted obedience and no actual contact with his citizens. Jesus informs any reader of Revelation, including the original seven churches, that He is present and ready to speak. But do I expect Him to speak to me now? And what exactly does listening to God mean? I know I'm not getting that slip of paper floating down from heaven? So how does Jesus walk with me?
Once again before I dive into those questions, I need to give a little more history on Ephesus. Let me give credit to where I glean a great deal of my research. I love Marty Solomon, the founder of Impact Campus Ministries and host of the BEMA podcast. I do not recommend jumping into the BEMA podcast at Revelation, but if you are a Bible nerd like I am, I highly suggest beginning with Season 1, Genesis, and moving forward.
Marty Solomon’s definition of apocalyptic text is literature that uses images and pictures to convey a message of hope in the present times - meaning - the original text was meant for immediate application to the people to whom the letter was addressed as well as to the people of our present time.
For the people of Ephesus at the time of John’s writing, the church was 25-30 years old. Reflect on your life and all that has happened in the last 25 years. We know from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians what a fantastic congregation of believers comprised the church. But life was hard.
Mount Vesuvius erupted approximately 10 yrs before John’s writing. The oracle at Delphi claimed one of the most destructive volcanic eruptions in history directly resulted from the wrath of the God of the Hebrews over the destruction of his temple by the Romans. This pronouncement from the oracle gave Domitian significant ammunition to persecute the Jews and Christians alike. Jesus begins his letter to the Ephesians by praising them for how well they labor and endure. Jesus commends them for not tolerating evil people, specifically the Nicolaitans. So why the judgment? Weren’t they suffering enough? Many people avoid even opening Revelation because they don’t want to see all the doom and gloom. Isn’t there enough judgment in the world already?
The Ephesians were accused of forgetting their first love. My understanding of this statement questions their dedication to Jesus' greatest commandment. "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind...Love your neighbor as yourself." Matthew 22: 37-40. The key in the Revelation text lies in the reference to the Nicolaitans.
The Nicolaitans professed belief in Christ but perverted the idea of grace. Their philosophy ignored moral laws and encouraged indulgent pleasures like eating the food of idols and all kinds of sexual immorality. Let’s face it. We all know a Nicolaitan and may have even acted like one in our own lives. A Nicolaitan lives with the attitude of anything goes from Monday to Saturday night then repentance on Sunday and start over again. This attitude truly ignores that God desires us to love Him entirely and to love our neighbors. The Nicolaitan credo only encouraged self love and self gratification.
So why did Jesus have a problem with the Ephesian church? Weren’t they doing all the right things and keeping the faith?
Remember I asked you to reflect on the last 25 years of your life. Not sure about you, but I have gotten comfortable. My children are stable. My house has a lot of equity. My church life is full and meaningful. And I do the same thing over and over day after day. My suspicion is the Ephesian church got comfortable. Their love for God and their fellow church members remained vibrant. But what about their love for their neighbor? How often do we point at a Nicolaitan and pass judgement then go to church and praise the Lord?
Remember the story in the gospel of Luke where the teacher of the law asked “who is my neighbor”. Jesus proceeded to tell the story of the Good Samaritan. Read Luke 10:30-37. Sometimes I’m the priest that crosses the road to avoid my neighbor. Sometimes I’m the Levite who puts my head down, avoids eye contact, and scoots along my way. Sometimes I’m the Samaritan who goes out of my way to help. And then other times I am the victim, lying bloody and broken in the dirt. So what can I learn from the letter to the Ephesians?
Life is going to be uncomfortable. Challenges are going to present themselves. People who live an ungodly life and never seem to have any troubles will always be thrown in my face. (#socialmedia) But the only person I can control is myself and how I treat my neighbor. But how do I hear God? How do I know who is my neighbor? How do I know he is walking with me? Do I even expect Him to speak?
God wants us to remember every morning when we wake up, all throughout the day, and every evening when we lie down to love him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love our neighbors as we love ourselves. All we need to know is right there in His Word. There is a reason the Bible is called the Living Word of God. I can read the same passage 100 times and have it resonate within me 100 different ways. But in order to hear him, I must be willing to listen which includes reading and studying my Bible, diligently praying, fellowshipping with other believers, worshiping and praising him with song, and simply tuning in to the world around me. I have to remember my first love walks among us. And if I do? I will eat from the Tree of Life in Paradise. Thanks be to God.
One of the ways God speaks to me the most is through song. If you have not heard this one, check it out!
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