Repent and do the first works. . .

Jesus told the Church at Ephesus (through John) in the Book of Revelation, that their discernment was good. They were able to see who was real and who wasn't. They were able to see the one's who claimed to be apostles, but were liars in deed. Jesus commended them for their works and perseverence. He even commended their patience. Yet, he said he had a problem with this Church. . .they had left their first love: Jesus. The Bible says the love of many will wax cold because of iniquity, it doens't say whose iniquity, it just says iniquity will make the love of many wax cold. The fault of the Ephesus church was that they got caught up discerning the falsehood around them and didn't keep first things first. In the process of discerning the iniquity around them, their love waxed cold. Jesus goes on to issue Ephesus a stern warning in three parts: 1)They must remember where they came from. We must be humble enough to realize that the only reason we aren't bound by sin is because of the grace of God, not because we are anything by ourselves. 2) They must repent. Repentence of the saints must precede RE-vival. 3) They must do the first works. The penalty is stated as follows: "Or else I will come quickly and remove his candlestick out of his place." No first works, no annointing. Let's look at that progression once more: (1) We observe iniquity in others and despite our labor and good works (2) our love waxes cold, we no longer are penitent and no longer do the first works so (3) The Lord removes the candle of annointing. Friend of mine, let every man be a liar, but let God be true. Repent, quit looking around and keep your eyes on Jesus. Do the works you did in the beginning and be not weary in well doing.