To the one who overcomes, I will grant to eat from the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God. Revelation 2:7b NASB
Just reading “the Paradise of God” brings a sigh to my lips. Peace fills my soul as I think about walking with my Jesus in the heavenly garden of God. This glorious fellowship is offered to the overcomer.
The church at Ephesus continued to war against darkness. They were fighting the good fight and keeping themselves pure in a perverse generation. But they had lost their first love. They were not overcomers because they had forsaken their intimate relationship with Jesus. He was calling them back to the first commandment: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. Loving Jesus is our number one priority!
Even though they had tirelessly labored and persevered in Jesus’ name, they did it without intimacy. Jesus said He would remove their lampstand if they did not repent (Rev. 2:5). Working for Jesus, without His presence is just that – work. Joyless work is drudgery.
Better to stir our hearts’ affection for Him. In the context of relationship, Kingdom work becomes a divine partnership. We have the great privilege of co-laboring with Him to set the captives free. What greater joy is there?
How do we rekindle that first love for Him? In Revelation 2:1 Jesus revealed two aspects of His identity that would help the Ephesians (and us) return to their first love. First, Jesus holds the seven stars in His right hand, and secondly, He walks among the lampstands.
The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches. Jesus holds them in His right hand which is the hand of power, authority and blessing. He holds every church and every believer in His powerful right hand. Abundant blessings belong to those cradled in His palm.
Jesus is also He Who walks amid the seven golden lampstands, which are the seven churches (Rev. 1:20). Jesus’ presence walks among us. He longs to be in the midst of everything we do.
Meditating on His presence and His powerful right hand will rekindle that first love fire in our lives. It will stir the embers of our hearts to burn brightly for Him, again. We will shine with His countenance as we partner with Him in the work of the Kingdom.
One day, the spiritual battles will be over. We will walk with our Divine Partner in the Paradise of God. He will give us fruit from the tree of life. What a beautiful day that will be. Come, Lord Jesus, come!