Love Unfailing
August 12, 2008
This is an analogy I wrote in November of 2003, for a college creative writing class I took (sophomore year - feels like forever ago!). I know the story is somewhat cliche, but it’s something we can always use a reminder of.
I don’t presume to think that my creative writing is quite as good as my technical writing (although I like to think that both have improved since I was 20 years old!). But, I’ve had a few people request to see the more poetic side of me since posting this last spring, and I aim to please. Enjoy.
Love Unfailing
Many times Jesus’ love for His church is compared to the love of a groom for his bride. This love is a love that would sacrifice and endure anything for His beloved.
Think about the atmosphere of a wedding. There the groom stands at the front of the church. In his stance is unsurpassed anticipation. His wedding party stands behind and to the side, supporting him on the most important day of his life.
As he stands steadily, his gaze is fixed on the closed doors at the back of the room, the gateway to the rest of his life. His hands quake in a way that suggests only excitement. He shifts his weight to his other leg, growing impatient. Yet he knows the love of his life stands only inches behind those doors.
Suddenly the throes and strains of the music grow deeper and richer, more vibrant and alive. He stands involuntarily straighter, beginning to smile. As the highs and lows of the music flood his ears, the moment he has been waiting for his entire life arrives.
Dressed in pure white, his beloved appears. She is beautiful - pure and serene. She begins her slow walk down the aisle to her groom, smiling faintly and staring deeply into his eyes, her gaze never faltering.
Tears flood his eyes as he thanks God for this day. He has been patient, enduring years of temptation, trials, and testing for this very moment. At times the impatience was almost too much for him to endure but he knew this moment would be well worth the wait.
As his bride reaches his side, he grasps her hand with the confidence that finally she belongs to him. She is his universe, his adored, the one person he would sacrifice his life for in the blink of an eye.
So is Christ’s love for us. Without a moment’s hesitation or uncertainty He sacrificed His very life for us. His love for us never wanes - it is constant and never ending. It is deeper than the deepest crevice in the endless ocean, wider than the far-reaching prairie in the heart of the vast wilderness.
Just as the groom waits with expectancy for his bride, so Christ waits expectantly for us, His Church, His Love.
After reading this, and knowing I used to do things like write a research paper on “How to Write a Research Paper,” I’m pretty sure I didn’t take my writing in college as seriously as you did!
I give it an A+.
Kev :: I have discovered through many years of paper-writing that your best bet is to never title your paper anything that actually gives away EXACTLY what the paper is about - no “how to”s in the titles.
For instance: a paper about “how to write a research paper” should be titled something more along the lines of,
“Abstract Art: The Essence of Technical Writing”
That is beautiful imagery. And beautifully written, too!
Jay :: Thanks!!!
Amen … I can’t wait to see Him! A beautiful truth beautifully written, Angi.
Jenny :; ME TOO!!! It’s worth waiting for.
Thank you, although I must modify your suggestion to include soy ice cream instead of Ben & Jerry’s. I think I may be lactose-intolerant. Also, I am glad to meet someone else who is a devout Christian, seeing as my relationship with God and Jesus is confusing, I need some guidance and some people whose faith is strong to admire.
Lydia :: Ah, well, soy ice cream works too!
Anything cold and sweet, really.
I agree that a relationship with God can be confusing sometimes - but stay focused on the prize at the end. When everything else is blurry, a focal point is really important. Stay strong. The whole point of this story - it will be worth it!
Well said!