"I spoke to the people of Otsego from the fourth and fifth verses of the second chapter of Revelation:
"I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent."
The people to whom these words are addressed have many excellent qualities, which are recognized by the True Witness; "nevertheless," he says, "I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love."
In these words are warnings, reproofs, threatenings, promises, from the True Witness, he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand. "The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches; and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches."
When this church is weighed in the balance of the sanctuary, it is found wanting, having left its first love. The True Witness declares, "I know thy works, and thy labor, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles and are not, and hast found them liars: and hast borne, and has patience, and for my name's sake hast labored, and hast not fainted."
Notwithstanding all this, the church is found wanting.
What is the fatal deficiency?--"Thou hast left thy first love."
Let each member of the church study this important warning and reproof.
Let each one see if in contending for the truth, if in debating on the theory, he has not lost the tender love of Christ.
Has not Christ been left out of the sermons, and out of the heart?
This solemn warning from the True Witness means much; it demands that you shall remember from whence you are fallen, and repent, and do the first works; "or else," says the True Witness, "I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent." O that the church might realize its need of its first ardor of love!"
Love for Jesus, and Jesus' love for sinners, have been dropped out of the religious experience of those who have been commissioned to preach the gospel, and self has been exalted instead of the Redeemer of mankind.
As the sunlight cannot be separated from the sun, so God's law cannot be rightly presented to man apart from the divine Author. The messenger should be able to say, "In the law is God's will; come, see for yourselves that the law is what Paul declared it to be,--'holy and just and good.'"
Though the law cannot remit the penalty for sin, but charges the sinner with all his debt, Christ has promised abundant pardon to all who repent, and believe in his mercy.
The love of God is extended in abundance to the repenting,
believing soul. The brand of sin upon the soul can be effaced only through the blood of the atoning Sacrifice.
No less an offering was required than the sacrifice of Him who was equal with the Father.
The work of Christ--his life, humiliation, death, and intercession for the lost man--magnifies the law, and makes it honorable.
Many sermons preached upon the claims of the law have been without Christ, and this lack has made the truth inefficient in converting souls.
Without the grace of Christ it is impossible to take one step in obedience to the law of God.
But he whose eyes have been opened to see the love of Christ, will behold the character of God as full of love and compassion.
God will not appear as a tyrannical, relentless being,
"I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent."
The people to whom these words are addressed have many excellent qualities, which are recognized by the True Witness; "nevertheless," he says, "I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love."
In these words are warnings, reproofs, threatenings, promises, from the True Witness, he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand. "The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches; and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches."
When this church is weighed in the balance of the sanctuary, it is found wanting, having left its first love. The True Witness declares, "I know thy works, and thy labor, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles and are not, and hast found them liars: and hast borne, and has patience, and for my name's sake hast labored, and hast not fainted."
Notwithstanding all this, the church is found wanting.
What is the fatal deficiency?--"Thou hast left thy first love."
Is not this our case?
Our doctrines may be correct; we may hate false doctrine, and may not receive those who are not true to principle; we may labor with untiring energy; but even this is not sufficient.
What is our motive?
Why are we called upon to repent?--"Thou hast left thy first love." Let each member of the church study this important warning and reproof.
Let each one see if in contending for the truth, if in debating on the theory, he has not lost the tender love of Christ.
Has not Christ been left out of the sermons, and out of the heart?
This solemn warning from the True Witness means much; it demands that you shall remember from whence you are fallen, and repent, and do the first works; "or else," says the True Witness, "I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent." O that the church might realize its need of its first ardor of love!"
In presenting the binding claims of the law,
many have failed to portray the infinite love of Christ.
Those who have so great truths,
so weighty reforms to present to the people,
have not had a realization of the value of the atoning Sacrifice
as an expression of God's great love to man.
The law is to be presented to its transgressors,
not as something apart from God,
but rather as an exponent of his mind and character.
As the sunlight cannot be separated from the sun, so God's law cannot be rightly presented to man apart from the divine Author. The messenger should be able to say, "In the law is God's will; come, see for yourselves that the law is what Paul declared it to be,--'holy and just and good.'"
It reproves sin,
it condemns the sinner,
but it shows him his need of Christ,
with whom is plenteous mercy and goodness and truth.
Though the law cannot remit the penalty for sin, but charges the sinner with all his debt, Christ has promised abundant pardon to all who repent, and believe in his mercy.
The love of God is extended in abundance to the repenting,
No less an offering was required than the sacrifice of Him who was equal with the Father.
The work of Christ--his life, humiliation, death, and intercession for the lost man--magnifies the law, and makes it honorable.
Many sermons preached upon the claims of the law have been without Christ, and this lack has made the truth inefficient in converting souls.
Without the grace of Christ it is impossible to take one step in obedience to the law of God.
But he whose eyes have been opened to see the love of Christ, will behold the character of God as full of love and compassion.
God will not appear as a tyrannical, relentless being,
but as a father longing
to embrace his repenting son."
Ellen White, Otsego, Michigan sermon 1891