Tour of Revelation Pt. 3
Wonder Woman was raised in Themyscira, a Greek goddess trained for war. Before she visited the world of man, her goal was dead set on destroying Ares, the god of war. But after she meets the mortals she is defending, she learns that vanquishing evil is not a worthy goal. Mortals love one another, and that is a much bigger purpose for living.
While Revelation is about God’s ultimate power over some of the greatest evil, John must contend with a problem the church in Ephesus faced. Ephesus had become great moralists, correctly defending against evil in the culture. Jesus commended them for that, but hating things God hates is not enough. Ephesus didn’t love Jesus, and that was a bigger issue.
This puts our priorities into question. God didn’t call us solely to be spiteful mouthpieces against culture and evil practices; we’re motivated by love for Jesus. That love compels us to work toward the greater good. Jesus did not give his life to condemn humanity, but to draw others toward his calling. There’s definitely room to be critical of culture, and we are called to speak truth against wrongdoing, but when that is all we can provide, we lose the true heart of our calling.
Funny enough, Jesus appears to John in full glory and power, and John falls over “like a dead man.” That is an automatic response. However, Jesus cannot make us love, consider, and get closer to him. We must “remember our love for Jesus” as a daily practice. Worship and adoration are choices we must exercise.
FIGURE IT OUT:
“To the angel[a] of the church in Ephesus write:
These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. 2 I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. 3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.
4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. 5 Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.
Revelation 2:1-5
- Read the verses above and circle any words or phrases that are significant to you. Why did you pick those ones?
- Why is it so dangerous to our spiritual health to “forget to love Jesus?”
- How do you balance being a communicator of truth (God’s laws) and a lover of Jesus? Can you do both?
- What are some practices to help love Jesus on a daily basis?