Two wives have one thing in common: their husbands have been out of the country for quite a long time. One wife constantly thinks of her spouse. She wakes up thinking of him, she goes to bed thinking of him, and he is in the back of her mind throughout every day. She cannot wait until he returns. The other wife does not seem to miss her husband much at all. She thinks of him rarely and though she knows she is married, this wife seems quite content living alone. In fact, when news came that her husband would soon be home, she was a little sad. So what’s the difference between these two ladies? Without knowing anything about the individuals involved, a person would conclude that the first wife loves her husband much more than the second.
So what’s the difference between the Christian who is madly in love with Jesus and the Christian who rarely thinks of him at all? We know the problem is not with the Husband, for He is the definition of love. Such love inspires him to state things exactly as they are. He said to one church, “You are lukewarm.” He said to another, “You’ve forsaken your first love.” Such words are meant to rescue the passionless.
We know the reasons love grows cold: forgetfulness, lack of intimate communication, busyness, hard times, worry, finding fulfillment or pleasure outside the relationship, laziness… But how could I ever forget what Jesus has done for me? How could my communication with God ever drift into common duty? How could I ever get too busy to treasure fellowship with the One who died for me? Shouldn’t hard times or worrisome situations drive me closer to my Savior? Dare I ever substitute any pleasure or entertainment for the fulfillment God gives? Will I let my laziness damage the most important relationship of all?
The enemy of marriage has many weapons. He’ll even use a writing like this to accuse and condemn. “See, you are a pitiful sinner who will never love your God the way you should. Why bother?” But Jesus speaks with a different voice… one full of grace and truth. “Come to me and listen carefully. Leave the things that distract and let me satisfy your deepest needs. Don’t you know I am enough? I am knocking at the door of your heart. Open up and let me come in. We’ll eat together and I’ll remind you of who I am. The more you know me, the more you’ll want to be with me. Fill your lamp with the Oil of my Spirit then you’ll be able to watch and pray. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent.”
“Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.” Revelation 3:2-3
“To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear to hear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Revelation 3:21-22