OUR FIRST LOVE by C. H. Bates

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, Cal. · Feb 13, 1907

OUR FIRST LOVE.

By C. H. Bates

"I HAVE somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love." Never in our experience as Christians should there come a time when we can not say that we are living nearer the Lord, and our hopes are brighter, than when we were first converted. The Christian's life is a life of progress in the divine life. While he will not boast of the progress made, he will be able to look back on his past experience and see when victory after victory has been gained, every one of which has left him stronger to meet the enemy of all righteousness.

The record of Demas is a sad one. Read it in 2 Tim. 4:10: "For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world." He was at one time associated with the apostles in carrying the Gospel to every part of the then known world; but for some reason this servant of God laid down the armor, and we are not left in darkness and doubt as to the reason. Notice the latter part of the verse: "Having loved this present world." He had lost his first love of God.

What does it mean to lose one's first love? There must have been a love that we once had that we do not now possess, and can it be true that such can be our condition? Do we love our husband or wife now less than we did when we were first united in marriage? We should be able to answer, No, from the fact that we are better acquainted with each other. This being true, how much greater should be the love of the dearest Friend on all the earth, the one who gave His life for us? And this love should increase and deepen the better we become acquainted.

Paul, in writing to his fellow-worker, Timothy, leaves this encouraging testimony: "I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day." When you first gave your heart to the Lord, did you commit its keeping to Him? If you answer, Yes, then I would ask, Is He keeping it better than you could keep it? And is not your experience in the things of God richer and brighter than it once was?

Remember that we only do the committing and God does the keeping. Is God able to keep us? Paul's statement abundantly proves that He is; when I think of this, I am reminded of the words of David: "My help cometh from the Lord which made heaven and earth; He will not suffer thy foot to be moved." "Behold, He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep."

Do you realize, dear fellow-Christian, that the One who has promised to keep you is the Maker of the heavens and the earth? Do you think there is power, then, sufficient to keep you from falling; and not only to keep you from falling, but at last to present you faultless before His throne? Remember the One who has promised to keep us does not go to sleep and forget His poor, trusting saints here upon the earth. "He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep." Then let no trusting soul become discouraged. We have every reason for rejoicing. The promises of God are abundant, and if we let them, will lift us above the trials and difficulties of this life, and finally give us a home such as is described by the apostle: "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him."

C. H. BATES.