Where Is Everyone?

Recently my old youth group from the church where I grew up had a reunion. We were teenagers and "youth" (i.e. teenagers and young adults) in the early to mid-70s. It was an amazing time as people from the "youth" culture were coming to Christ. The Jesus Movement was in full swing and this church totally embraced it.

With the advent of Facebook many, many old friends (and a few that I do not really remember) have been back in touch. Old pictures have been posted (which made me feel sort of old) and then talk of a reunion began to emerge.

I was unable to attend the reunion (lack of money and time will do that for you) but I kept an eye on it with Facebook postings and pictures and videos.

But my big question has been where are the ones that fell away? How about those that no longer have their "hand to the plow?" Where were Chris, Richard, Steve, Frank, and a host of others?

I am not saying that no one else asked about those that have fallen away. I am sure there were those who remember those guys and are concerned for them. I remember spending a good amount of time with some of these guys and watching them grow in their faith, be involved in ministry, serve the Lord, and then something happened. There was that time when the Jesus Movement had come to an end and we got married, had children, went off to college and got degrees (gasp - and jobs!). But that does not mean that love for God and love for serving Him should diminish.

As I looked at those pictures and started to look back on those years I had to search my own heart and see where I am with the Lord. An interesting passage of Scripture came to mind. In Revelation 2:1-7 Jesus is addressing the Ephesian church and He accuses them of leaving their first love. But Jesus just doesn't tell us what is wrong but He always gives us a cure for the problem. In verse 5 He gives three steps to rekindling that original love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works.

Remember. Remember where we came from. Remember those early days of just a simple love for God.

Repent. Turn away from sin, apathy, the works of the flesh and return to the Lord. Remember, the Ephesian church on the outside seemed like a right-on church. Look at verse 2. I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. Sounds like a good church, on the surface.

Do the first works. Return to your original motivation of loving Jesus. Doing those works not for any reason but because of your love for the Lord.

Remember. Repent. Return.