Reblogged from Answers of Truth
Nothing of love and romance matters if you aren't flourishing in the Great Love Story. For most of you this story isn't new, but listen closely to the Passion unfold:
The Great Love Story
Jesus, the Creator God, made his dwelling among men (Jn. 1:1-14). Though He is in very nature God, He did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. Leaving the triune Godhead (the Trinity—God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit), He came to earth to save mankind (Phil 2:6-7). These men, however, were so wicked and full of sin that it was written, “There is no one righteous, no not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good not even one. There is no fear of God before their eyes” (Rom. 3:11-18).
But God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only son, that whoever would believe in him would not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world but to save the world through him. The world needed a Savior, one who would die for their sins, die for their wickedness. This Savior is Jesus, the promised Sacrifice (Isa. 53). Jesus told all men, “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” Then God said to those men, “Whoever believes in my Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects my Son will not see life for my wrath remains on him (Jn. 3:16-18, 36).
So Jesus came to those who would believe in his name, giving them the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God (Jn. 1:1-13)—children who would be heirs with Him in His inheritance. Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death (Heb. 2:14-18). And although men were evil, Jesus who is fully God and fully man, lived a sinless life (Heb. 4:15). To pay for the sins of mankind he would be betrayed, beaten, arrested, flogged, stabbed with a crown of thorns, pierced with sharp nails through his hands and feet, and crucified on a cruel cross. He died.
The Great Love Story
Jesus, the Creator God, made his dwelling among men (Jn. 1:1-14). Though He is in very nature God, He did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. Leaving the triune Godhead (the Trinity—God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit), He came to earth to save mankind (Phil 2:6-7). These men, however, were so wicked and full of sin that it was written, “There is no one righteous, no not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good not even one. There is no fear of God before their eyes” (Rom. 3:11-18).
But God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only son, that whoever would believe in him would not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world but to save the world through him. The world needed a Savior, one who would die for their sins, die for their wickedness. This Savior is Jesus, the promised Sacrifice (Isa. 53). Jesus told all men, “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” Then God said to those men, “Whoever believes in my Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects my Son will not see life for my wrath remains on him (Jn. 3:16-18, 36).
So Jesus came to those who would believe in his name, giving them the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God (Jn. 1:1-13)—children who would be heirs with Him in His inheritance. Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death (Heb. 2:14-18). And although men were evil, Jesus who is fully God and fully man, lived a sinless life (Heb. 4:15). To pay for the sins of mankind he would be betrayed, beaten, arrested, flogged, stabbed with a crown of thorns, pierced with sharp nails through his hands and feet, and crucified on a cruel cross. He died.
But this Jesus did not stay in the grave.
On the third day he rose, conquering sin and defeating death. Jesus said, “I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. Death has been swallowed up in victory” (Hosea 13:14). Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 5:57). This victory, through faith in Jesus our Savior and Lord, restores mankind to God to spend an eternity with him in Heaven. Jesus said, “In my father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am (Jn. 14:2-3).
If we believe in faith that Jesus is Savior and Lord, that God raised Him from the dead (Rom. 10:9-10), and that none of our own works bring us merit before God (Isa. 64:6, Eph. 2:8-9); we are told because of His Great Love, we can be saved from God’s justified wrath and enter into His awesome presence. Our Prince, our bridegroom, Jesus, has gallantly come to rescue us from captivity and death. He has invited us to be His Love, His Bride (the Church). This is the Greatest Love Story ever written. A marriage not ending in death; but a marriage beginning with death to our sin and newness of life to our souls. Our Great Love will last throughout all eternity. “Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” (Rev. 19:9).
This is what we LIVE for! As exciting as it is to fall in love and be married to a godly man, it is dull in comparison to the pleasures and joys which are found in the arms of our Savior. He is the Prince who sacrificed his life to rescue us. He is the King crowned in Majesty inviting us to share in His inheritance. And he is our Great Lover who desires unity with us for all eternity. Our job is to fall more in love with our Prince, our King, and our Great Lover, Jesus Christ. The most important preparation we can ever do, is to ready ourselves to stand before our Bridegroom! Are you more preoccupied with a human lover or a Holy Lover? Can you say, “Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you” (Ps. 73:25).
On the third day he rose, conquering sin and defeating death. Jesus said, “I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. Death has been swallowed up in victory” (Hosea 13:14). Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 5:57). This victory, through faith in Jesus our Savior and Lord, restores mankind to God to spend an eternity with him in Heaven. Jesus said, “In my father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am (Jn. 14:2-3).
If we believe in faith that Jesus is Savior and Lord, that God raised Him from the dead (Rom. 10:9-10), and that none of our own works bring us merit before God (Isa. 64:6, Eph. 2:8-9); we are told because of His Great Love, we can be saved from God’s justified wrath and enter into His awesome presence. Our Prince, our bridegroom, Jesus, has gallantly come to rescue us from captivity and death. He has invited us to be His Love, His Bride (the Church). This is the Greatest Love Story ever written. A marriage not ending in death; but a marriage beginning with death to our sin and newness of life to our souls. Our Great Love will last throughout all eternity. “Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” (Rev. 19:9).
This is what we LIVE for! As exciting as it is to fall in love and be married to a godly man, it is dull in comparison to the pleasures and joys which are found in the arms of our Savior. He is the Prince who sacrificed his life to rescue us. He is the King crowned in Majesty inviting us to share in His inheritance. And he is our Great Lover who desires unity with us for all eternity. Our job is to fall more in love with our Prince, our King, and our Great Lover, Jesus Christ. The most important preparation we can ever do, is to ready ourselves to stand before our Bridegroom! Are you more preoccupied with a human lover or a Holy Lover? Can you say, “Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you” (Ps. 73:25).
The only way to have successful human relationships is to have Jesus Christ as your Greatest Love. A joyous marriage, begins with a foundation that flourishes in Christ first.
Where are you putting your greatest energy and affection? The answer should be Jesus. If it is not…what is causing your affection to turn to others lovers (idols)?
K.J. Nally is a writer, teacher, and counselor. She is pursuing her master’s degree in Biblical Counseling, concentrating in women’s ministry from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. K.J. and her husband, Dustin, have a passion to fight for Godly marriages, spur on teens to seek purity, and encourage men and women to live obediently to their Creator God.
K.J. and Dustin are marriage and individual counselors at Hope Counseling Center through their church, North Wake. They also work with Converting Hearts Ministries,’ a Christ-centered addictions ministry.
K.J. currently works as a freelance journalist with The Wake Weekly. Check out more about Christian Living at K.J.’s blog, Answers of Truth.
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