They were “rock solid”

I can think of few condemnations worse than this one — you have been faithful to Christ, but you don’t love Christ.

This is the condemnation of the Ephesian church by Christ.  You might say it this way — they were rock solid for Christ; He just took no pleasure in it.  For Christ there is no “comfort” in joyless obedience.  There is no “satisfaction” in loveless action.

Now some might wonder if this is such a terrible word — they were faithful after all.  Is it really so important to love Christ too?  Won’t simple obedience do?

Jesus Himself gives us guidance to responding to that suggestion.  He was asked on one occasion, “What is the greatest commandment?”  In other words, what is the summation of the Law — how can we understand the Old Testament in its simplest terms?  To that He responded,

“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” (Mk. 12:30).

In other words, the greatest commandment is to love the Lord God.  That means that the greatest sin is not to love the Lord God.  So for all their activity and “faithfulness,” the Ephesians were condemned by their disobedience of the greatest commandment of God.  They violated the most basic aspect of Scripture.  They neglected the single greatest priority of God.  They could not have sinned in any greater measure.

Those are tragic words.

And most believers would have to affirm the temptation to fall short of a complete and whole-hearted devotion to Christ.

What are some temptations that might distract us from Christ.  They are many, but here are a few:

• money
• worldly temptations
• loved ones
• self-reliance
• marriage
• relationships
• weariness
• Satanic attack
• sickness
• apathy
• criticism
• lack of faith
• “success”
• work instead of a walk

One writer sums up our distraction from God with these words:

There are many reasons for failure in the Christian life, but one of the most noteworthy is absence of a deep, personal friendship with the Savior.  Many Christians serve Christ, they communicate the gospel, and they study the Bible.  But they have never cultivated a meaningful and edifying relationship with Christ.  Such a relationship can be developed only through time spent alone with the Lord, delighting in His blessings and fellowship. [Carl Laney, John.]

Our obedience to Christ is obviously essential.  Ministry is a great privilege.  We must just remember not to attempt to serve Christ without a heart of devotion for Him.