In contemporary Christian circles, particularly among proponents of ultra-grace theology, we often hear that “anything goes” as long as we have accepted Christ—after all, we are forgiven. Yet this perspective stands in stark contrast to a recurring theme woven throughout the New Testament: serious warnings to believers about spiritual drift and the consequences of losing sight of what matters most.
Biblical Warnings About Spiritual Drift and Losing Your First Love
The book of Hebrews alone contains multiple urgent warnings to the faithful about falling away from God:
- Hebrews 2:1-4 warns against drifting away from what we have heard
- Hebrews 3:7-4:13 cautions against hardness of heart and failing to enter God’s rest
- Hebrews 5:11-6:12 addresses spiritual immaturity and the danger of falling away from faith
- Hebrews 10:26-31 warns about deliberately sinning after receiving knowledge of truth
- Hebrews 12:25-29 emphasizes the danger of refusing to listen to God’s voice
Beyond Hebrews, the letters to the churches recorded in Revelation contain equally sobering warnings directed specifically at believers. These are not abstract concerns—they are messages from Christ Himself to His people about maintaining their devotion and love for Him.
The Church That Did Everything Right: The Ephesian Church
Consider the church at Ephesus, described in Revelation 2:2-6. By many measures, this church was exemplary in their Christian faith and practice:
I know your deeds and your labor and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil people, and you have put those who call themselves apostles to the test, and they are not, and you found them to be false; and you have perseverance and have endured on account of My name, and have not become weary. (Revelation 2:2-3)
Their spiritual résumé was impressive. They were doctrinally sound, spiritually vigilant, and morally faithful. They rejected false teaching and remained committed through difficulty. Yet Christ’s assessment contained a devastating rebuke about losing their first love: “But I have this against you, that you have left your first love” (Revelation 2:4).
The consequence was grave: “I am coming to you and I will remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent” (Revelation 2:5). Their lampstand—their testimony, their effectiveness, their very reason for existing as a church—would be removed.
How to Know Your First Love: A Self-Examination for Believers
This account should shake us. Despite their spiritual achievements, the Ephesian church had committed the one offense Christ could not overlook: they had stopped loving Him supremely. The question we must ask ourselves is honest and probing: Can you say that you truly love God above everything else?
The answer becomes clear when we examine our lives practically. Your first love reveals itself in three unmistakable ways:
- Where you spend your time – Your schedule reveals your priorities
- Where you spend your money – Your financial choices show what you value most
- What occupies your thoughts – Your mental focus demonstrates your devotion
These are not abstract measures—they are the honest barometers of our affections and spiritual condition.
Common Traps That Lead to Losing Your First Love
1. Distractions and Busyness in the Christian Life
Life itself—even blessed life—can become a distraction from the source of all blessing. The excitement of God’s blessings can subtly shift our focus from God Himself to what God provides. Spiritual teachers throughout history have noted that the greatest test of faith is not lack or hardship, but riches and power. When we become so focused on God’s gifts that we forget the Giver, we have fallen into a spiritual trap.
2. Ministry Work Replacing Personal Devotion to God
Those engaged in Christian ministry face a particularly insidious trap: the work of God can consume more of our time and energy than communion with God. We find ourselves serving so hard that we neglect the One we serve. Pastors, church leaders, and dedicated Christians can become so caught up in their spiritual responsibilities that they lose the intimate relationship with God that should motivate all their service.
3. Good Things Becoming Idols
Even relationships and family—unambiguously good gifts from God—can gradually assume a place in our hearts that belongs only to Him. When we love our loved ones more than we love God, we have made them idols, and no amount of good intention changes that reality. Other seemingly innocent priorities like career success, education, or hobbies can also subtly replace God as our first love.
The Real Dangers of Misplaced Love and Spiritual Idolatry
An idol always exacts a terrible price. Consider the devastation wrought by the idols of money, power, and success. Countless lives have been shattered, families destroyed, and souls damaged by the pursuit of these false gods. The wreckage is not incidental to idolatry—it is inevitable. History and contemporary society alike bear witness to this truth.
God removes our idols not out of spite or jealousy in some petty sense, but because He loves us and understands what we often do not: these false loves will harm us if left unchecked. He removes them to save us from the damage they will ultimately inflict. This is an act of divine mercy, not punishment.
How to Return to God as Your First Love: Practical Steps
The pathway back to wholehearted devotion to God is neither mystical nor passive. It requires intention and deliberate action. Importantly, this is an action-based commitment, not a feeling-based one. The feelings will follow your actions.
The biblical principle for restoring God to His rightful place is the practice of the law of first fruits. This means giving God the best of what you have, not the leftovers. This ancient principle, rooted in Scripture, provides a practical framework for reordering your priorities:
The First of Your Day
Begin each morning with intentional time devoted to God—prayer, Scripture study, and worship. Not what remains after everything else has claimed your attention, but your first, freshest hours. This practice signals to yourself and to God that your relationship with Him takes priority over all other obligations and opportunities. Many Christians find that starting the day with God sets the tone for maintaining focus on Him throughout their busy schedules.
The First of Your Provision
Give generously and sacrificially from what God has entrusted to you. When your giving reflects priority rather than convenience, your heart follows. This includes tithing, offerings, and generous support for God’s kingdom work. Financial stewardship becomes a powerful spiritual discipline that realigns your affections.
Renewal of Your Mind
Consistently fill your thoughts with God’s truth. What we meditate on shapes who we become. A renewed mind focused on God’s character and purposes naturally reorients our loves. Regular Scripture reading, Christian meditation, and theological reflection are essential practices for maintaining God as your first love in a world constantly competing for your attention.
The Choice Before Us: Will You Make God Your First Love?
The Ephesian church received a call to remember where they had fallen and to repent. That same call echoes to us across the centuries. We can do everything right doctrinally, morally, and practically while missing the central point entirely. Spiritual success without a vibrant love for God is hollow and ultimately dangerous.
God is not asking for perfection in our service or flawlessness in our conduct. He is asking for our hearts—first, foremost, and ultimately. In a world clamoring for our attention and affection, choosing God as our first love is a radical act of devotion.
The question remains: Will you heed the call and restore God to His rightful place in your heart?
Chrissie Greyling
Jrevolution 