Repent or Else

"Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place." Revelation 2:4-5 (NIV)

The church in Ephesus was doing everything right--or so it seemed. Jesus commended them for their deeds, their hard work and perseverance. They didn't tolerate wicked men, they put false apostles to the test, and endured hardships in Christ's name without growing weary. Sounds like a resume most churches today would be proud of. But Jesus, the One who knew them intimately, saw something serious that no one else could see--their love for Him had grown cold. All the good works could not cover or make up for this painful loss. It was so serious that, if they did not repent, Jesus would remove their light and His presence.
Let's make it personal. What was it like when we first loved Christ? Did we love Him extravagantly, not caring what it cost us? Did we serve Him joyfully, considering it a privilege rather than a duty? Did we give out of a heart overflowing with gratitude? Where are we now? Are we bogged down in the details? Just going through the motions? Finding our satisfaction in other things? Jesus has the remedy for those of us who have forsaken our first love, but it's not optional: remember and repent--do the things you once did!