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‘Unto the angel of the Church of Ephesus write.’
Rev_2:1
The Church in Ephesus is earnestly and plainly warned of the gravity of her condition. She is in peril of final rejection, notwithstanding her toil, her patience, her doctrinal fidelity. She must get back to her old level. She must remember ‘from whence she is fallen.’
Surely this epistle has its lessons for us whether as a religious community or as individuals.
I. Does it not warn us as a Church against relying too much on mere doctrinal accuracy, on formal exactitude, on conformity to traditions however venerable, for a continuance of the Divine blessing? It is so easy to persuade ourselves that the Lord is with us, because we have the threefold ministry, because the sacraments are duly administered by us, because we are in the true succession, because we are the historic Church. It is so easy—so fatally easy—to rest our confidence on such things and to forget that more is required, if we are to continue our work as a Church, to fill the position assigned to us, to be worthy of the recognition of the Ascended Son of Man. Might we not adapt the language of the epistle somewhat thus, so as to apply with suggestive force to ourselves? I know thy works, thy labours, thy history. I know that thou hast been scrupulous in ordinations and forms of service. Thine has been a great record; if there was once stagnation, there is now activity. But I have this against thee that thou art wanting in spiritual power. Beware lest thy light be quenched and thy glory lost beyond recovery.
II. And what of ourselves?—We pride ourselves on our churchmanship, on our religious privileges, on our spiritual inheritance. But what of our inner lives? What is the truth as to the personal relation in which we stand to Christ? What is the measure of our individual love for Him? How far are we willing to sacrifice ourselves in His service? How deep is the joy we find in the thought of Him, in the anticipation of one day seeing Him ‘face to face’? ‘Remember.’ Does memory speak to us in words of reproach? The past was so much better and worthier than the present. The zeal was so much keener. The prayers were so much more earnest. The Bible reading was so much more devout, we got so much more out of it. The presence at the Lord’s Supper was so much more fruitful. Once we did love Him with all our hearts and souls. But now that love has grown less earnest, less inspiring, less uplifting. Formalism has taken the place of enthusiasm; orthodoxy there is still, but not, not, the old burning spirituality. We have not lost faith; we have not broken away from the creeds; we have not cast away the habits of worship; but the bright flame of ‘the first love’—the love of years ago—has sunk low or gone out. If that be so, then what is our religious condition? Can we really think that all is right with us? Can we really suppose that we are in no sort of danger, that whatever may happen to others we at any rate will not be among the castaways? ‘Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I come to thee, and will move thy candlestick out of its place, except thou repent.’ Such is the warning!
III. There is also the promise.—‘To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God.’ The tree of life! The Paradise of God! The leaves of healing! These are the figures of speech. The realities may be ours, even ours. Life for ever! Life unweakened by disease! Life unclouded by the shadow of death! Life in all its glory! Life in all its vigour and grace and beauty! The life of angels and archangels! The life of the saints! The life of the Son of Man. Such is the reward which will be God’s gift to us, if we overcome.
Rev. the Hon. W. E. Bowen.