Returning to Our First Love # 2

Returning to Our First Love # 2

Another thing which stamps a peculiarity on the first love of the Christian is the novelty of the objects and scenes which are now presented to his enlightened mind. All his lifetime he has been in darkness respecting the true nature of spiritual things; for "the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." But now the eyes of his understanding being opened and the true light shining into them, everything appears new and attractive; and sometimes a divine glory is exhibited to the contemplation of the enlightened mind. This light is, therefore, called "marvelous" by an apostle, and the love which accompanies it partakes of its marvelous nature. "Whom," says the apostle Peter, "having not seen, you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory" (1 Peter 1:8).

Again, God deals with His children in the infancy of their spiritual life as mothers with their children while they are young. They nurse them with tender affection and do everything in their power to render them comfortable. They furnish them with the sweetest nutriment, cherish them in their bosoms, carry them in their arms, and rock them in the cradle. But when they have been weaned and have grown strong, they are turned out to make ends meet for themselves. They must now learn to work and endure hardships, and are no longer nourished at the breast or dandled on the mother's knee.

Thus, our heavenly Father, who exercises a warmer and more tender affection for His children than the kindest mother, is pleased to deal very tenderly with young converts; and often pours streams of divine comfort into their moldable hearts. They are for a season led in smooth and pleasant paths; though dark clouds may occasionally come over them, and "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning." In their prayers and other religious exercises, they enjoy liberty of access to their heavenly Father; and much of the their time is spent in grateful songs of praise for redeeming love and converting grace.

The state of the soul at this period is beautifully expressed by the poet in the hymn which begins:

"Sweet was the time when first I felt
The Saviour's pardoning blood!"

Earthly things now have little or no attraction. The thoughts and feelings, the conversation and actions, are chiefly occupied with vital religion. These are indeed peaceful days, and will be often afterwards remembered with a mournful pleasure, when the scene is greatly changed; and especially when inbred corruption grows strong, when temptations vex the soul, and when the heart seems to have lost all tenderness; and when, instead of joy, darkness and trouble almost overwhelm the soul. Then is often uttered the exclamation of Job, "Oh that I were as in months past!" (Job 29:2).

The union of the believer to Christ is, in Scripture, often compared to marriage; and the joy of the young convert is like the joy experienced in the day of espousals (Jeremiah 2:2).

The early days of the true Christian may also be well illustrated by the feelings of the newly enlisted soldier. He rejoices in the "pomp and circumstance" of the military life, is animated by the sound of martial music and by the sight of splendid banners and the gorgeous uniforms of his officers; and leads a life of idleness, while his bounty money supplies him with such luxuries as he desires. But how different are the conditions and feelings of the same person when he receives marching orders, and especially when he is led into battle, when all his energies are required, and his life is placed in imminent danger!

But the change in the Ephesian church of which the ascended Saviour complains, and on account of which He brings a charge against them, is not that which naturally occurs by a change of circumstances, which may take place without any real declension in the vigor of piety. When He says, "You have left your first love" - He charges them with actual backsliding. And the declension of a church supposes that of the members of which it is composed. Let us, then, consider the causes and symptoms of backsliding and the imperative duty of all who may unhappily have fallen into this state.

Declensions in vital piety are owing to a variety of causes, internal and external. The whole, however, may be attributed to the temptations of satan, the allurements of the world, and the inbred corruptions of the heart.

Declensions in vital piety are very commonly produced by too much interaction with a careless, money-loving, pleasure-seeking world. Vital religion is a delicate plant, and being surrounded by many unfavorable circumstances, is liable to receive injury from contact with a polluted world.

He who is clothed in garments white and clean will find it difficult to avoid contracting spots which deform and defile his robes when he is obliged to live in a filthy house.

~Archibald Alexander~

(continued with # 3)