Busy for God, Distant from Christ

Few words in Scripture more sobering than the words Jesus spoke to the church in Ephesus:

“But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.” — Revelation 2:4

Their first love was not lost, misplaced or stolen, but willfully abandoned.

That single truth changes everything.

The church at Ephesus was not actively apostate nor in a state of rebellion. They were doctrinally sound, hardworking, and spiritually disciplined. A visitor may have left a service thinking the production went off without a hitch and that they looked like the ideal church. Jesus even commended them for their labor, discernment and endurance.

Yet in the middle of all their religious activity, Jesus identified a devastating problem: they had left their first love.

That warning begs the question of us all, “Have I left my first love?”

And keep in mind, this is different from accidentally losing something, this is deliberate.

It is possible for us to be busy for God but still drift away from God. It is possible to serve faithfully, work tirelessly and, yet, have the flame of intimate love for Christ burn out. This process is often a gradual, subtle, and unnoticed attack by the enemy.

Doing Everything Right Except the Most Important Thing

Jesus begins His message to Ephesus with praise:

“I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not and found them to be false.” — Revelation 2:2

This church worked hard to protect doctrine, calling out false teaching, all while enduring persecution and hardship. In modern terms, they would have had strong theology, excellent leadership, active ministries, and committed volunteers.

But Jesus sees deeper than appearances in verse four, He sees abandonment.

As mentioned above, the word “abandoned” carries the idea of intentionally leaving something behind. This was not an accident. They did not wake up one morning and discover their love for Christ had mysteriously disappeared. Over time, through any vehicle the enemy can use to get you out of the boat - distraction, routine, pride, busyness, or spiritual complacency - they walked away from the intimacy they once had with Jesus.

That is a humble reminder for all of us. Because if it could happen to Ephesus, it can happen to us.

The Difference Between Losing and Leaving

Think about losing your favorite pair of sunglasses, you want to find them, so you frantically search because it matters to you. But when leaving something, there is a choice made. Maybe it’s because my attention shifts or my priorities change. Whatever, the fact is something else has become more important.

Many Christians today have not “lost” their passion for Christ. They have gradually replaced it.

Careers, comfort, politics, sports are all examples of replacement options becoming our first love. Ministry itself can become first love. Even good things like family can quietly take the throne that belongs to Jesus alone.

This is tragic misplaced affection as Jesus never asked only for our obedience, he asked for, and demands, our whole heart.

When Jesus was what the greatest commandment was, He answered:

“And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” — Mark 12:30

Christianity, at its core, it is a relationship of love between the Savior and the redeemed.

First Love Is Often Exciting — But Mature Love Runs Deeper

When many people first come to Christ, their love is vibrant and expressive. There is excitement in worship, a hunger for Scripture, fervent prayer, gratitude over salvation and an undeniable boldness is proclaiming the gospel.

It resembles the initial stages of marriage.

In the beginning of a relationship, love is often emotional, passionate, and exciting. Every conversation matters. Every moment together feels significant.

Healthy marriages are not meant to stay emotionally immature forever. Over time, love deepens. It becomes steadier, richer, and more sacrificial. The butterflies may settle, but covenant grows stronger.

The problem is not love maturing; the problem is love disappearing.

Our spiritual maturity should deepen affection for Christ, not diminish it.

For example, a husband who never speaks to his wife, never pursues her, never listens to her, and never spends time with her. He cannot excuse his neglect by saying, “Our love just matured.”

No, love neglected becomes distance. And ignore that distance and it soon becomes abandonment.

The same is true spiritually.

A mature believer may not express love for Jesus in the exact the same way they did at first, but there should still be devotion, reverence, awe, tenderness, gratitude, and desire for communion with Him.

The Apostle Paul prayed this over believers:

“And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment.” — Philippians 1:9

The bottom line - biblical maturity does not reduce our love for our Savior, it increases it.

How Do We Leave Our First Love?

Christians rarely consciously decide, “I no longer want Jesus.”

Instead, the drift usually happens slowly, when…

Prayer becomes routine.

Worship becomes mechanical.

Scripture reading becomes box checking rather than transformational.

Church attendance replaces communion with God.

Conviction softens.

Sin becomes tolerated.

Distractions multiply.

Little compromises create gradual distance.

This is why Proverbs warns:

“Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” — Proverbs 4:23

The Christian life cannot be sustained on autopilot. Love requires nurturing and care.

Relationships do not drift toward intimacy naturally. They drift toward distance unless intentional effort exists.

Think about any strong marriage. The couples who remain deeply connected after decades are usually not the couples who accidentally stayed close. They pursued one another with intentional communication. They also sacrifice for the good of the other. And they protected the relationship at all costs.

Our walk with Christ is no different.

Jesus Wants More Than Religious Performance

The frightening reality presented in Revelation 2 is that the church in Ephesus looked spiritually successful. Accurate doctrine, sharp discernment, and admirable endurance. Yet, Jesus said something was deeply wrong.

Why?

Because Christianity without love becomes hollow.

The Apostle Paul wrote:

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.” — 1 Corinthians 13:1

And later:

“So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” — 1 Corinthians 13:13

God desires out undevoted affection. It is entirely possible to be a sharp theologian (even the devil knows Scriptures) while neglecting intimacy with God. We can serve tirelessly while no longer enjoying His presence. We can argue gospel truths publicly while privately we grow cold.

Jesus does not simply evaluate what we do. He examines why we do it.

Remember, Repent, Return

Jesus did not merely diagnose the problem in Ephesus. He gave the solution:

“Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the works you did at first.” — Revelation 2:5

Notice the progression.

1. Remember

Jesus calls them to remember what they once had.

Remember the joy of salvation.
Remember dependence on Him.
Remember the tenderness of early devotion.
Remember when worship was genuine and prayer was alive.

Sometimes spiritual renewal begins with honest reflection.

2. Repent

Repentance is not merely feeling remorseful over our sin. It is about a 180-degree turn, completely different direction.

Brothers and sisters, if we have allowed lesser things to occupy first place in our hearts, surrender them today. Not because He wants to take joy from us, but because Jesus is our greatest joy.

3. Return

Jesus says to “do the works you did at first.”

Return to prayer.

Return to Scripture meditation.

Return to worship that flows from affection instead of obligation.

Return to obedience motivated by love rather than guilt.

All about relationship with the only One who saves.

Love Is the Evidence of True Faith

Scripture presents love as the central evidence of authentic faith.

Jesus said:

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” — John 14:15

Notice the order. Obedience flows from love.

John later wrote:

“We love because he first loved us.” — 1 John 4:19

The Christian life is built on responding to God’s love!

When we truly grasp what Jesus willingly did for us on the cross, bore wrath, shame, suffering, and death to redeem us, love becomes the natural response of the transformed heart.

If we stop marveling at grace, it is not long before we become content with a counterfeit Christ.

The Warning

Jesus closes His message to the church at Ephesus with a stern warning, with eternal consequences:

“If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.” — Revelation 2:5

Final Questions

If Jesus wrote a letter describing our life today, what would He say?

Would he compare us to the church at Ephesus - commending our activity but confronting our distance?

Maybe faith has become routine. Maybe we are doing all the things a good Christian should do, but perhaps the intimacy with God has faded.

The good news is this: Jesus leaves the ninety-nine to chase down the one. He rejoices when you come home after a sinful journey away. He does not say, “Perform better.” He says, “Return.”

The greatest tragedy is quietly growing cold towards the one we once loved most.

But the greatest victory is returning to Him again.