Jesus Sees Everything — Even the Hidden Drift

In Revelation 2:2–5, Jesus writes to the church in Ephesus, acknowledging their hard work and perseverance. They’ve remained steadfast in testing false teachers and enduring hardships for His name. But amid all the external faithfulness, there’s a hidden problem: They’ve forsaken their first love. 

The Ephesians have allowed their passionate love for Jesus to slowly fade. And Jesus—who sees everything, including the condition of their hearts—issues a call for them to return to the love they had at the beginning.

This passage is a timely reminder for all of us. Jesus sees beyond our actions. He knows our hearts. Sometimes, we get so caught up in serving Him, doing the right things, and being active in our faith that we miss the quiet drift that happens when our hearts grow distant from Him. We might be serving Him faithfully, but the love that once burned brightly may have dimmed.

1. Jesus Sees the Outward and the Inward

In Revelation 2:2, Jesus acknowledges the good deeds of the Ephesian church:

“I know your deeds, your hard work, and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.”

The Ephesian church has worked tirelessly for the sake of truth. They’ve persevered through hardships, and they’ve been vigilant in rooting out false teachers. Jesus sees all of this and affirms it. He recognizes their efforts and discipline in the faith.

But here’s the critical point: Jesus sees more than just their actions. He sees the condition of their hearts. We often evaluate our faithfulness by what others can see: our service, our deeds, our actions. But Jesus sees why we do those things. He sees our motive. Are we serving Him because we love Him, or have we grown tired, distant, or simply gone through the motions?

2. Jesus Sees the Drift Beneath the Discipline

Despite all the right things the church in Ephesus was doing, there was a deeper problem that Jesus addresses in verse 4:

“Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first.”

This is the hidden drift—the slow, quiet erosion of their love for Jesus. They didn’t wake up one day and decide they no longer loved Jesus. It happened subtly. They were still doing the work, still standing up for truth, still enduring hardships, but their love for Jesus had faded. They had left their first love.

Spiritual drift often happens silently. It’s not usually a dramatic or sudden change. It’s a slow and often imperceptible shift where our hearts grow colder, and our connection to God weakens. The Ephesians were doing all the right things outwardly, but inwardly, they had lost the deep passion that had once fueled their faith.

3. Drift is Often Silent—but Always Seen by Jesus

Jesus sees the drift, even when we don’t. Often, when we feel distant from God, we don’t notice the small steps that have led us there. We get so busy in life, in ministry, and in service, that we forget to check the condition of our hearts. But Jesus sees it clearly.

Psalm 139:1–2 reminds us that God knows us intimately, even in our secret places:

“You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.”

When we’ve drifted, Jesus sees it. He knows when our hearts are no longer burning with the same love and passion we once had for Him. And He is calling us to return to Him—not just in our actions, but in our hearts.

4. Jesus’ Correction Comes from Love

Jesus doesn’t leave the Ephesian church without a way forward. In verse 5, He offers a call to repentance:

“Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.”

His words aren’t condemning—they are a loving invitation. Jesus isn’t rejecting the church for their drift; He’s offering them a path back to intimacy with Him. He’s telling them, "Return to the place where your love for Me burned bright. Come back to the first love you had when you first encountered My grace."

This is a call to remember—to reflect on the early days of our walk with Jesus, when we were filled with wonder and awe at His love for us. We’re invited to return to the joy of salvation, to restore the deep, intimate relationship that once characterized our walk with Him.

5. Jesus Desires First Love, Not Just First Place on a To-Do List

Jesus isn’t simply asking for a place in our lives. He’s asking for first place in our hearts. He wants love, not just service. He desires our hearts to be fully His. It’s not enough to check boxes on a spiritual to-do list. We need to love Jesus with the same passion we had when we first met Him.

It’s easy to get caught up in the demands of life, in the busyness of ministry, and forget the why behind it all. Jesus calls us to remember that everything we do should flow from a place of deep love for Him. Serving Him without loving Him first is a dangerous drift.

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Conclusion: A Call to Return

Jesus sees everything—the outward actions and the inward heart. If we’ve drifted away from our first love, He’s not angry with us. He’s calling us back. Just as He called the church in Ephesus to return to the love they had at first, He calls us today to return to Him.

Have you drifted from your first love? If so, it’s not too late. Jesus sees you—and He’s inviting you to come back, to restore your passion for Him, and to reignite that first love. The good news is that Jesus is always near. He is waiting with open arms to welcome you back to a deep, intimate relationship with Him.

If you find yourself in a place where your love for Jesus has cooled, take a moment to reflect on how far you’ve fallen. Repent, and return to doing the things you did at first. Let’s reignite the flame of love in our hearts and return to a place of intimacy with our Savior.

Remember: Jesus is always calling us back to the first love—the love that transforms, the love that fuels everything we do for Him. He’s not just interested in our service; He’s interested in our hearts.