THROW IT BACK!
Revelation 2:1-7

There’s no place on a warm summer afternoon like Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs.  Wrigley has a personality all its own, due in large part to the Cub’s faithful fans.  Year after disappointing year, the fans keep coming back to cheer on their “Cubbies”.

Some of the most distinctive fans are the “bleacher bums” seated beyond the outfield wall.  From their often strange attire to their rambunctious cheering and creative signs, the Wrigley bleacher bums are a unique, unified and loyal congregation.

How loyal?  Well, for decades now, when an opposing player hits a home run into the bleachers, the fans throw the ball back onto the field.  A souvenir most fans would highly prize, Cubs fans disdain because it was slugged by the opponent.   If, on occasion, a fan doesn’t throw the ball back, his fellow bums go into an uproar yelling, “Throw it back, throw it back!” for as long as necessary.  Yep, Cub fans put their team before their own personal interests.

Except, have you noticed in recent years that the commitment is slipping?  Some of the bleacher bums have started coming to the park with a cheap, store-bought baseball in their pocket and throw it onto the field, keeping the real ball for themselves.  That way they get to keep the official game ball without suffering the scorn of their fellow fans.

How can this be?  Has this once proud fraternity of faithful fans become infiltrated by charlatans?

It reminds me of the church at Ephesus that King Jesus addresses in Revelation chapter two.  Jesus  commends them for their hard work, their perseverance and their discernment, but then he says in verse four, “Yet I hold this against you:  You have forsaken your first love.  Remember the height from which you have fallen!  Repent and do the things you did at first.”

What was the first love they had forsaken?  It was their love for Christ, himself!  What a reprimand from our Savior!  

How does your life look?  Have you slowly lost the fanatical allegiance you used to have for the Lord?  What has taken his place in your life?  The Opponent lofts one home run after another into the stands for you to snag and keep as a treasure.  Acceptance, approval, success, possessions – these false treasures are attractive, but hard to grasp.  You’re kept busy striving to achieve more and more – too busy to maintain your relationship with Christ which was once more important than anything else.

Throw it back!  Don’t hold onto the things of this world, forsaking your first love!  Throw them all back!  Renew your commitment to the Savior.  You’ll only find true fulfillment in Him.  Repent and return to your first love.