Cathy and I like to joke about the kinds of movies she enjoys. Three subjects seem to fascinate her: twins, kidnappings and amnesia. Twins is a “no brainer” subject for her, since we have twin daughters. I’m not sure how she got fascinated with kidnapping. Amnesia? I used to understand that one…but I forgot! When she was a kid, Cathy followed a comic strip that had all three. Kidnapped twins, with one having amnesia. Totally cool!
Though it contains none of Cathy’s favorite subjects, one of our favorite movies is a romantic comedy released a few years ago. In it, the destined couple meet, start falling for each other, then go their separate ways early in the story. Both of them end up trying to find love in the arms of others, but neither can quit thinking about the love they “lost.” At various times in the story, they come amazingly close to running into each other, but always miss…until the end. It’s easy to love stories like that.
Today, though, I want to mention a lost love that never gets found. It’s the story of a guy who is full of selfless love for the girl of his dreams. Over and over, he looks for ways to meet her and demonstrate the kind, gentle, unselfish love that he knows will fill her heart to overflowing. When she seems to ignore his attempts to reach out to her, he goes to great lengths to demonstrate his love in ways that she might understand. Each time that fails, he calls on some of his friends to approach her and tell her how great his love is.
Over and over, the girl spurns the kindness of the most caring person she will ever hear about. She ignores him, quietly walking the other way. Sometimes she finds other people, people who hurt her and take from her without ever really caring about her…but she flaunts those relationships, throwing them in the kind one’s face. Sometimes she acts as if she might change her mind, having a brief conversation with him. Those talks, though, always end with her rejecting him and running off to others.
The sad end of this story comes when it is too late. All his attempts to develop a loving relationship have been pushed away. The day arrives when she can no longer say yes…even if she wanted to. On that day, he will say the most painful words he could ever utter: “I never knew you; get away from me.” (Matthew 7:23 New Living Translation)
A careful reading of the Bible will reveal one of the great themes of the text: God designed us to have an intimate relationship with Him. Over and over again, He is seen as the patient, persistent, loving Bridegroom, seeking His bride so that He can shower her with His loving presence. We, you and I, are the bride. Our whole existence is based on a huge divine attempt to KNOW us. He gives us chance after chance to accept His offer of love. If we do, His heart rejoices and we begin to know a life beyond our previous imagination. If we don’t…
…we end up UNKNOWN. For eternity.
This weekend at Stone Ridge Church, we will talk about endless love. I can’t wait to discuss it with you! Can’t be there? Catch the podcast!
