Ephesians 5:32
“This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.”
The mystery referred to is the oneness of a husband and wife. It is a wonderful union. As I said in earlier entries, since the beginning of time, boy meets girls has been a favorite theme.
I was listening to an oldie, “Sealed with a Kiss”. A wonderful throwback. As I heard it several times, the heartache was real. It’s theme infiltrated several songs. A new theme arose. The dissatisfaction this union. Why? Because of the out of balance nature. God is meant to be first. If not, then the relationship isn’t healthy and one gets fed up and leaves.
This wonderful romance is only right when God is the first love. Christ and people is the be the great love of all time. Lost mankind was marred by sin. All sorts of things go sour. But God. Ephesians 2:4,5 says, “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved.” He loved us even when dead.
One may ask, “Why did He love us even when dead?” He sees worth in us. It is a lopsided deal. We get everything and He gets us. He’s ok with that.
Romans 5:10 paints an even more bleak image, “For if, when we were enemies of God, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life!” We weren’t just unlovely or dead in sins, but we were enemies of God. Even then Christ went to the cross and sacrificed Himself for us.
The “why” becomes even stronger. It makes me think of the person that continues to be kind, even when the object of kindness is rude in response. But God. That is the greatest contrast in history. His love is there even though we were hardened enemies. I have an acquaintance (a couple) that describes themselves as proud atheists. This hurts God, but He still loves and would die again.
This is great news. There are many wounded and hurt in society. They needn’t be. There is a God who wants to hold and heal them. The saved person flourishes. Like a dry patches that gets watered and tended. All sorts of growth and life abounds. I speak as one of those. One of many who received and were healed.
These redeemed ones share the message of this great God who loves and heals. We become His representatives. What an honor and privilege to be able to share this. Lord, thank You for Your great love. Wow! The greatest of stories. You heal and mend and send us off to share Your story. Thank You.