“I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember then from what you have fallen, repent and do the works you did at first.” Revelation 2:4-5 RSV

Early Loves

Part 1

One day, while drying my hands at the kitchen sink, I saw my son and his young bride kissing in their front yard. This was no peck on the cheek—it was a full embrace with a great deal of passion, and when they parted, their eyes were locked on one another’s face.

I smiled and looked away from their private moment in a public place. It was meant for just the two of them to experience, but they clearly weren’t concerned about who might see them or what they would think. They were completely given over to each other.

Clearly this was a fleshly moment for them, but my mind went to spiritual things. (The Bible makes comparisons between the flesh and spirit frequently.) I observed a few things about myself in those few moments.

My passion for the Lord should be visible. Yes, we have our private times daily. But out of the love and trust that grows in those quiet, reflective hours, comes a fresh burst of passion from time to time, unexpected, unplanned. I don’t have to “work it up”—it simply overcomes me. Am I willing to show my passion for Him publicly?

There should be nothing separating my Lord and I. When my son embraced his wife, there was nothing that could have slipped between them. How close am I to my Lord? What has separated us, even a little bit? The clock? The calendar? Wrong thinking about Him, about me, about us?

My eyes are to be locked on Him alone. I admit that even in private devotional time with the Lord, sometimes I am unfocused and distracted. My imagination soars into the clouds and trees outside my window. And I chide myself: I’m alone with the Creator of the universe, the head of the church, my protector, savior, healer, shepherd, and king—how could my attention drift? When I am with the lover of my soul, I want my eyes locked on Him.

I will savor every revelation of Him, enjoy every moment I spend with Him, and hide it all in my heart as a shield against the hard times. When my son and his wife embraced, I thought to myself, “Store it up, kids. You’ll need it later. Life won’t always feel this wonderful, unhindered by trials.” Sometimes it’s hard to remember the first passionate bursts of intimacy, later on when life is so difficult, when we feel unloved and broken, when we’ve been hurt or disappointed so many times. I want to remember the love we’ve shared, the whispered words between us, the gazes and warmth of relationship. I want to remember the comfort of understanding when two share a history together. I want my mind to go straight to acceptance of His ways, and not to blaming for my pain.

All this, and more, characterizes that early love, so easily lost or overlooked as the years roll by. Tomorrow, we will look at the second part of today’s verse.

Examine us, even as we now examine ourselves, Lord. Help us see and remember. We yearn for You. Amen.