“Some people reach the top of the ladder only to find it is leaning against the wrong wall.” — Anonymous
Sometimes we can fight the right battle but in the wrong way. Have you ever spent too much time and energy fighting a battle to later realize that you were worse for the wear? God praised the church of Ephesus for standing up for truth and refusing to tolerate evil. However, they neglected to fight the battle to keep their heart tender, and loving. This is God’s greatest command. They allowed the world to harden their hearts and fought in legalism and not love. Effectively, they leaned their ladder against the wrong wall.
The main god of Ephesus was Diana, and worship of her was hyper-sexualized perverted, and corrupt. Perversion warps thinking, hardens hearts and makes love grow cold. The church at Ephesus had done well to resist such darkness, but they lived and fought in a hardened, cold world. But even as God commended them for their perseverance, He had a serious concern — they had lost their first love.
“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. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.” — Revelation 2:2–3
Yet, after this praise comes a warning.
The Distraction of the Wrong Battle
What we often miss is that this church was fighting the culture on its battlefield, not God’s. Sometimes when we’re attacked or threatened, we put up our guard and hold our ground—but in the process, we forget love. Truth is the guide but the heart is the goal.
Love is what sent Jesus to the cross. God is equal parts love and justice. But when we become too focused on the battle, we’re tempted to fight with natural instincts instead of spiritual ones—and we end up fighting on the wrong battleground.
“Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. 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. But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.”— Revelation 2:4–6
“Because lawlessness is increased, the love of most people will grow cold. But the one who endures and bears up [under suffering] to the end will be saved.” Matthew 24:12-13
The Right Battleground
The correct battleground is rooted in the heart of God, the gospel of love—our first love for God.
Let’s not underestimate the courage and purity of the Ephesian church. They did not tolerate sin, and God honored that. But remember: the reason God hates sin is because it is our agreement with our own destruction.
God came in love. He so loved the world that He came and gave so that we wouldn’t perish.
When we lose sight of this love and forgiveness, we drift into legalism—and that’s a battle we can never win. Legalism hardens the heart and weakens our witness against the enemy who comes to steal, kill, and destroy.
“Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life,
which is in the paradise of God.”
— Revelation 2:7
Prayer
God, give us ears to hear what You are saying to us right now.
Soften our hearts as we turn toward You.
I give You my callousness and hardness.
Help me not to get caught in the trap of defending myself in a legalistic way and forget the purpose—love and passion for You, and for what matters to Your heart.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
