Lovers. Eternally.

"For as a young man marries a young woman, so shall your sons marry you, and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you." // Isaiah 62:5

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared deforehand, that we should walk in them." // Ephesians 2:8-10

There are many different analogies for the relationship between God and His chosen people. Friendship, parent and child, teacher and student, & many more. But by far, the most profound and most heartwrenching is that of lovers. The picture of the relationship between a husband and wife.

Lovers. True to each other forever, until death. For a believer, death will never come. Yes, one day we won't have our physical bodies and will leave this earth, but our souls will never die. We are already living in eternity with our eternal Lover.

When I say Lovers I mean this:

You are completely in love with each other. Whatever happens to you or around you throughout the day, the first person you want to tell is them. Everything you do is with the other's will, heart, glory, and good in mind. There are ups and downs. You laugh, you cry, you yell, you learn, and you rejoice together. Sometimes you get angry with one another. You mess up (He doesn't, but we do). You repent and apologize. You tell the whole truth 100% of the time. You are willing to do absolutely ANYTHING for each other. You trust them 100%. You share the darkest parts of who you are with Him. Most importantly your love is unconditional. Forgiveness is given before it is even needed. Not to mention, the love of the other one is all you need. You aren't in the relationship for personal gain. You don't love them because they are funny or have a certain hair style (which by the way, isn't true love). You have a real love of the person. Not the idea of them or even what they bring to your life. True love. Divine love. Eternal love.

"Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." // 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

THAT is divine love. Not a "love" that is twisted and distorted by the fall and human condition. Love that is of God.

That kind of relationship is the kind that each Christ follower should have with their King.

That is the heart of God. A personal relationship with each of us is what He wants more than anything.

We are told that He wants us to pursure Him. "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." // Matthew 6:33

In our pursuit, if it is true, he meets us and when we seek Him He allows us to find Him. "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks recieves, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened." // Matthew 7:7-8

Just as a lover wants to be pursued. And once is pursued by a true heart, a lover responds. So the Lord's heart for a relationship with us. He wants us to want Him. Hence the gift of free will. A relationship with Him would be empty if it were forced, and therefore, would mean nothing. But a relationship with the Creator that is desired by the creation is filling for both. The Creator rejoices in knowing His creation personally and knowing their hearts belong to Him and will forever be in communion with Him. And creation rejoices knowing that they are cared for. That their Creator would care enough to let them chose to love Him and that He would freely give them mercy, grace, and love. The price for which, is faith. True faith which desires relationship. Relationship that spurs on obedience and dedication through deeds and services. Deeds that speak of faith and relationship and of the One that they were done for.

It is profound to think that our God loves us in such a bold, romantic, and fulfilling way. That we could possibly have something to give Him, that would make Him pursue and desire us so, is unfathomable to believe, but so it is. All we truthfully have to offer is ourselves. Our entire lives and beings. And that is all He asks. Just as the bride offers all she is to her groom.

Let that truth fester. Let it grow. Let it expand your heart and your mind and your soul. Let it speak to you in languages you didn't know that you were fluent in. Let Him show you how He sees you as a lover and as His bride. Your heart will be expanded. Your life more full.

He is lover and we are loved. What more is needed?