True Christians, without question, want to advance in their spiritual life. Hence, they pray, read scriptures, contemplate, and even fast. Attending conferences and seminars are other areas that demonstrate Christians’ interest in spiritual maturity. Some think spiritual maturity can be attained by acquiring Bible degree, or involve in a special kind of ministry akin to mission trip involvement. But when one evaluates all these practices as good as they are, he will discover their inadequacy to meet the core essence of God’s requirement. Then, what is the height of Christian faith according to God?
Christian faith’s pinnacle requires more steps to go than becoming content with ability to discern. In fact, unlike its usefulness to the church abilities to straighten the church’s teaching up well, it may involve excess criticism and destroy believers in place of building them up. Ephesus was one of the best churches in Asia Minor in discriminating false teachers. Looking at the church’s strong effort to expel false apostles, Jesus commends the church for relentless refutation of dreadful dithers (Rev. 2:2-4). Nevertheless, He discredits its discernment stamina by what it lacks.
Christian faith’s height goes farther miles than reflecting God’s sentiment against those whom he hate. The church of Ephesus, unlike Pergamum, not only had no room for the Nicolaitans’ philosophy, a sect whose characteristics are unidentified, but also disgust it (Rev. 2:6). Yet even though God conferred upon them some credit for their emotional coalition towards His enemies, by His immediate call for repentance He indicated that their hatred towards God’s enemies is not the most important thing He thirsts for.
The height of Christian faith, then, can never be understood in any less term than loving God with undivided heart. When Jesus, who manifested Himself by His ever indwelling presence among all His believing group of people (Eph.2:1; Mt. 28: 20), continues to address the church of Ephesus He articulated, “But I have this against you, that you have left your first love” (Rev.2: 5). Then, by expanding the terrible condition of the church He asserted,”remember from where you have fallen,” (Rev. 2:5). Even though “from where,” is the actual translation of the preposition in the original language, the word” fallen” with its connotative meaning of downward motion gives freedom for the NIV Bible to translate it as “Remember the height from which you have fallen.” Thus our translation bids us see the love God as the height of Christian faith.
New Testament argues that loving God is to be the determining factor of Christians, beginning from Christ’s corroboration of loving God with ones entirety as the most essential practice of the Christian community (Mt. 22: 37), His followers derived similar principles for diverse audience at various occasions. Thus, John stated Christian life style as two dimensional response (I.e. love for God and love for believers) for the manifestation of the divine love (1John 4: 19). Even Paul said, “If any one does not love the Lord is to be accursed (1cor.16: 22).
Do you want to experience the height of Christian faith? Then, Love God! Offer Him your affectionate heart! And value Him more than commandments, even the Ten Commandments. Re-adjust your main concern and make the love of God your priority over “knowledge,” ministry and other religious activities. Then everything will fit together from the main source, which is your love for Jesus Christ.
