Revealing apostasy, laboring in Jesus’ name, and suffering persecution did not exempt the Ephesians from condemnation. The Lord Jesus’ judgment to this church cannot be ignored: He is more concerned about why you are doing His work. Fighting liberalism, defending His Word, expanding the church, teaching sound doctrine, and holding the right standard does not mean you are on the ‘holy’ list with God. In fact, the Ephesians were doing everything in Christ’s name and they still lost sight of Him! Don’t think that you are free from His righteous hand, simply because you work in a fundamental, Bible preaching church. He holds no favoritism toward a member of His body anymore than He did with the Jews. Remember, He sent the Jews into captivity when they lost sight of Him, and it will be no different for a Christian:

“do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.”