Editor's note: The Bible is full of stories that can serve as road maps as we navigate through life on earth. Amazingly, there is a story or two (or scores of them) that can have relevance in your life--and have within the universal qualities that make them applicable to millions. Below are one author's thoughts on how the city of Ephesus in Paul's day parallels her own existence.

phesus was a marble city hugging the shore of the azure Aegean Sea. The view of it from the Roman imperial highway must have been like a picture postcard. Both the thoroughfare and the active seaport brought prosperity to the 225,000 population. Archaeologists discovered in Ephesus both an amphitheater that held more than 24,000 spectators and--one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world--the immense marble temple of the great goddess Diana.

On his second journey the apostle Paul briefly laid over in Ephesus. He later returned, staying three years. The gospel of Christ won the hearts of the people both in the city and neighboring countryside. How did Paul plant a Christian church in sight of the center for the idolatrous worship of Diana?

The answer may be apparent in Paul's letter to the Ephesians. The Christian church was planted in Ephesus by the people motivated with gratitude for God's unutterable love. God's gift of salvation given through Jesus Christ for all humankind awakened the first love of the Ephesians. The first love motivated the Ephesians' worship, characterized by an attitude of repentance, confession, forgiveness, and praise.

No match kindles a flame like that of the first love of the Ephesians and John the beloved. John was the last person still alive who had known the living Jesus. He was pastor in Ephesus during his later years. Before he died, John wrote his gospel to the generations that followed so that they could believe without seeing. John's gospel enhances the first love of all believers. But as the world crept in, the first love dimmed, and Christ subsequently rebuked the Ephesian church, saying, "Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love" (Rev. 2:4, NIV).

Before I came to Christ, my life was like that of those in Ephesus. My personal amphitheater was centered around good times--dates, movies, dinners. My personal temple, like that of Diana, portrayed selfishness. How did God find me?

God pursued me. He sought me during the part of my life when I ran from Him.

God kept His promises even though I occasionally made and broke promises to Him.

God forgave my selfish past when I saw myself as blind, naked, and wretched.

As my first love grew, I partook in spiritual activities. After many years, there was my own country home, and as my comforts increased, my first love decreased.

So Christ warns the Ephesian church as He does me, saying, "Repent and do the things you did at first" (Rev. 2:5, NIV).

The marble city on the azure Aegean Sea is in ruins. But my first love is rebuilt by repentance, confession, forgiveness, and praise.

Do you have an unutterable gratitude for God's love?

Are you released from the wonders of the world?

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Susan Cunic writes from Pikeville, Tennessee.